The Ranger Who Stopped Paying for Fires—And Saved a Forest
How one woman’s leadership transformed Madagascar’s Menabe-Antimena from ecological crisis to conservation breakthrough Dr. Soary Randrianjafizanaka had a problem: the fires kept coming. As Director of the Menabe-Antimena Protected Area in western Madagascar, she watched year after year as flames tore through one of the planet’s most irreplaceable forests—home to the world’s smallest primate, Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur, and dry forests found nowhere else on Earth. Her team responded quickly, paying local community members to help extinguish the blazes. It seemed like the right thing to do. But the fires kept getting worse. Then Soary and her team at Fanamby Association—our partner organization managing the protected area—discovered a troubling pattern: some of the same people collecting payments to fight fires were the ones setting them. The well-intentioned incentive had backfired spectacularly. So she made a controversial call: stop paying people to put out fires. “It was not an easy decision,” Soary reflects. “But we had to be honest about what was working and what wasn’t. The forest couldn’t afford for us to keep doing the same thing.” The Turnaround What happened next stunned even the most optimistic conservationists. In 2025, Menabe-Antimena achieved a record drop in fire incidents—55-65% fewer fires than in 2024, with no severe fire peaks for the first time in years. The 516,000-acre protected area, which had been losing forest at catastrophic rates (over 5% annually in the worst years), is now stabilizing. In 2024, forest loss dropped to just 1,621 acres—a 58% reduction from the previous year. Soary’s team redirected resources into fire prevention: building firebreaks, training rapid-response brigades, deploying satellite detection systems, and working with local villages to understand why fires were being set in the first place. Communities that once saw the protected area as an obstacle now play an active role in reporting illegal activities. “The community once saw this forest as merely an impediment to destroy for agriculture to take over,” Soary says. “Now they see that the forest protects their own precious needs—such as providing water year round for their rice fields and needs, for their future.” Recognition and Reality In 2025, Soary’s leadership earned her the International Ranger Award at the IUCN World Conservation Congress—a recognition of her courage, her commitment to community rights, and her determination to defend one of Madagascar’s most threatened ecosystems under genuinely dangerous conditions. But Soary is quick to temper any celebration. “This is fragile,” she insists. “One bad year, one funding gap, and we could lose everything we’ve gained.” Menabe-Antimena’s recovery is real but reversible. Continued community engagement, stronger rapid-response capacity, and sustained funding are necessities. What It Proves Through our partnership with Fanamby and leaders like Soary, we’re seeing what works in conservation: local leadership that can adapt strategies honestly, community investment that creates genuine partnership, and the courage to admit when well-intentioned approaches aren’t working. For the first time in years, Menabe-Antimena has a fighting chance. For donors and partners, this year proves that investing in local leaders and trusting their judgment delivers results. The world’s smallest primate—and the forest it calls home—is counting on it. Dr. Soary Randrianjafizanaka in the center wearing yellow, surrounded by Conservation Brigade members.
After Devastating Attack, Madagascar’s Indigenous Forest Defenders Need Help to Rebuild
This week, the President of the Makirovana Association—an Indigenous community organization (VOI) that co-manages the Makirovana-Tsihomanaomby Protected Area in northeastern Madagascar and a Conservation Allies partner—reported a devastating and violent attack on their village by illegal gold miners. More than 80 homes were destroyed, vital conservation infrastructure was burned, and one community conservationist was kidnapped. Donate Now Two weeks earlier, the Makirovana community patrol uncovered a clandestine mining camp operating deep inside the Protected Area. Police arrested two miners, who were released only after formally committing not to return. But last week, in retaliation, a larger group of illegal miners launched a coordinated assault on villages around the Protected Area. They targeted families directly involved in protecting the forest—smashing homes, threatening residents, and forcing terrified villagers to flee into the forest. One of the members of the Association, trying to prevent the destruction, was kidnapped by the gold miners and taken away. For their safety, the Makirovana Association evacuated many families to a temporary shelter in the nearby city of Sambava. The violence escalated over the weekend, with miners returning to raze 88 family homes, destroy the village’s chief’s house, and burn all conservation facilities, including ten native tree nurseries and reforestation sites. The attackers openly stated their intent: to intimidate and eliminate any community members standing in the way of illegal mining inside the Protected Area. Despite the trauma and danger, the Makirovana communities remain steadfast in their commitment to defend their forests and their rights as Indigenous stewards of this critical landscape. Their courage galvanized action—local authorities and citizens called for immediate intervention. Yesterday, a joint force of more than 60 armed officers from the gendarmerie, police, and military deployed to the Makirovana region. They have begun arrests despite armed resistance and are working to secure the Protected Area and protect the communities whose livelihoods and culture are tied to its survival. The operation is ongoing, but fortunately, the kidnapped Indigenous conservationist was safely released. HOW YOU CAN HELP The Makirovana Indigenous community has lost nearly everything. Families who risk their safety daily to preserve Madagascar’s irreplaceable forests now need urgent help to rebuild their homes and restore the conservation facilities that protect this biodiverse landscape. Your support today will: Rebuild 88 destroyed homes for displaced families Restore nurseries and reforestation infrastructure Strengthen community-led patrols protecting the Makirovana-Tsihomanaomby Forest Uphold the rights and safety of Indigenous forest defenders This is a moment when solidarity truly matters. Please consider an urgent contribution to help the people of Makirovana recover and continue safeguarding their forests for future generations. Donate Now Note: VOI stands for Vondron’Olona Ifotony,local grassroots community associations in Madagascar that are crucial for conservation efforts. They manage natural resources within their territories by creating and enforcing management plans, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring the sustainable use of resources for their livelihoods. These community-based efforts are supported by government and non-governmental organizations to build capacity through training and funding, strengthening local stewardship for long-term conservation success.
Conservation Allies Partner Advances Conservation Law Enforcement in Madagascar’s Spiny Forests
Madagascar’s spiny forests are among the most unique and threatened ecosystems on Earth, but they face relentless pressure from illegal logging and land clearing. The PK32–Ranobe Protected Area—one of the largest PAs for Madagascar’s spiny forest and dry forest ecotone, which harbors species found nowhere else—was established in 2015 thanks to WWF. Tragically, almost immediately after the declaration of PK32–Ranobe Protected Area WWF abandoned its management and protection, leading to accelerating deforestation since 2015. In early 2025, the FARAFATSI Association—a local organization established to save PK32–Ranobe Protected Area, was established with support from Conservation Allies. Throughout October and November 2025, FARAFATSI led multiple missions to change this reality, demonstrating how local partnerships can turn the tide against illegal deforestation in PK32–Ranobe, even in the face of powerful opposition. October: Four-Day Enforcement Mission In mid-October, FARAFATSI joined forest officers, gendarmes, and local authorities for an intensive four-day patrol through the Protected Area. The team intercepted two trucks carrying approximately 120 massive timber logs, extinguished an active forest fire, dismantled three illegal settlement huts , and destroyed several charcoal kilns—a leading driver of forest loss. Using traditional community rules called “DINA,” offenders transporting pirogues (small boats) and timber signed commitments to cease illegal activities. November: Eviction Planning and Major Timber Seizure Recent observations revealed major deforestation hotspots where fires and forest clearing continue despite protected status. FARAFATSI worked with regional environment authorities (DREDD) to convene the District-level Crisis Management Committee. On November 11th, the District Chief chaired a meeting with representatives from the Gendarmerie, Police, Military, DREDD, and Judiciary, who unanimously approved an eviction operation of logging camps. While waiting on court approval to carry out the mission, FARAFATSI continues assisting DREDD with operational planning. Meanwhile, illegal timber extraction typically occurs at night and on weekends when enforcement is limited. To counter this, Conservation Allies funds FARAFATSI’s Conservation Brigades for targeted patrols during high-risk periods. On a two-day patrol mission in mid November, a Conservation Brigade intercepted a truck carrying 486 wooden planks and 18 timber logs. The truck was transferred to DREDD custody, with formal legal proceedings beginning immediately after. In the days following the seizure, FARAFATSI faced significant pressure from multiple actors attempting to halt the prosecution. Despite this coordinated pressure from multiple levels of authority, FARAFATSI held firm, ensuring the case would proceed to prosecution. Protecting Madagascar’s Forests Through Partnership The October and November operations underscore both the persistent threats facing PK32–Ranobe’s forests and the effectiveness of the partnership between Conservation Allies and FARAFATSI. Through Conservation Allies’ support—including helping establish FARAFATSI and funding the Conservation Brigades—these collaborative efforts are creating real accountability for environmental crimes. With an eviction operation pending and legal action underway against timber traffickers, FARAFATSI continues proving that determined enforcement can protect even Madagascar’s most threatened landscapes.
SMART Technology Transforms Conservation at Tsinjoriake Protected Area
The Tsinjoriake region lies in southwestern Madagascar, where dry spiny forests meet coastal landscapes rich in endemic wildlife. Across this region, Protected Area managers are embracing new digital conservation tools to help them collect, measure, and evaluate data from Rangers to improve the effectiveness of managing their parks and reserves. The Conservation Allies team in Madagascar is helping train and assist our partners in the deployment of those tools, especially the SMART and EarthRanger apps that are now merging as one platform to support Protected Area field teams and managers. These digital tools help rangers and managers track wildlife populations, monitor threats like poaching and illegal logging, and measure the effectiveness of their conservation efforts. The systems work across smartphones and computers, allowing field teams to record observations in real-time and transform that information into strategic action. Training in the Field This month, Conservation Allies Southern Madagascar Conservation Officer – Antso Razakafamantanantsoa (pronounced Rah-za-fee-mah-nahn-tsoo-uh) visited the Tamia Association, a local organization managing the Tsinjoriake Protected Area near the city of Toliara, Southwest Madagascar, and trained them in the use of SMART. There, the Tamia team configured the SMART App on smartphones supported by Conservation Allies donors, reviewed environmental threats and catalogued the main tree species to create a baseline for monitoring forest health. Seven rangers and conservation staff took the training into the field, smartphones in hand. They documented illegal logging threats, wildlife signs, and patrol routes, transforming the forest into an interactive classroom. Each data point revealed its connection to the larger conservation picture. Back in the office, participants learned to transfer information from smartphones to computers, create reports, and plan strategic patrols. Step by step, they discovered how SMART transforms raw field notes into actionable insights. Patrols are now planned with precision, and conservation teams can identify and respond to threats like illegal logging before damage spreads. New Confidence for Effective Conservation The Tamia Association now has both the tools and the confidence to use SMART effectively and improve conservation actions in the Tsinjoriake Protected Area. Through SMART and EarthRanger, forests and their wildlife are better protected.
Madagascar Takes Center Stage at IUCN’s World Conservation Congress 2025
Madagascar is making headlines at the IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC) with the release of the updated Madagascar Protected Area Outlook 2025, which charts a bold course for the island nation’s conservation future. The comprehensive assessment evaluating the deforestation rates of Madagascar’s 109 Protected Areas is the result of a collaboration between the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD), FAPBM, Madagascar National Parks, and our 26 Malagasy partners. In a landmark announcement at WCC, Madagascar’s conservation leaders have committed to zero Protected Area forest loss by 2030. This ambitious and critical expansion of protections recognizes Madagascar’s irreplaceable biodiversity—90% of its wildlife exists nowhere else on Earth—and the urgent need to protect it from deforestation, mining, and climate change. The updated Outlook provides both a sobering assessment of current challenges and a practical roadmap for success. Furthermore, Conservation Allies and our Madagascar partners gathered today to further address the current conservation challenges, strategies, and achievements of Madagascar, and the broader African continent. Participating partners included Fanamby, Impact Madagascar, Madagasikara Voakajy, GERP, NEST, ADHET, Dahari, and Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. By increasing global awareness of Madagascar’s critical conservation situation, we’re connecting Malagasy conservation leaders with the global community and working to turn this week’s ambitious commitments into concrete, lasting action. Africa’s presence at WCC represents more than policy commitments—it’s a call to action for the global conservation community to support local partners already working tirelessly to protect some of the world’s most extraordinary ecosystems.
Honoring Heroes: IUCN WCPA International Ranger Award 2025
Rangers are conservation’s frontline defenders—monitoring wildlife, preventing poaching, fighting fires, conducting research, and engaging communities, often with little recognition and enormous risk. In the past 15 years alone, more than 1,500 rangers have been killed on duty. Since 2021, the IUCN WCPA International Ranger Award has allocated $630,000, directly benefitting 375 rangers and indirectly supporting countless ranger families, protected area staff, and local communities. The Award, presented at the 2025 World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, celebrates those who exemplify incredible courage and dedication while facing extraordinary challenges to safeguard the planet’s most at-risk wild spaces. The recipients of the 2025 IUCN-WCPA International Ranger Awards are: Rodrigue Katembo Mugaruka, Deputy Park Manager, Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo – recognized for courageously defending DRC territory against corruption and exploitation. Tuzlovski Lymany National Nature Park Ranger Team, Ukraine (seven members) – recognized for valiantly protecting Ukraine’s estuaries and wildlife during ongoing conflict. Al Shouf Cedars Nature Reserve Ranger Team, Lebanon (10 members) – recognized for defending Lebanon’s forests while empowering surrounding communities. Union-Palm Island Environmental Alliance Rangers Team, St Vincent and the Grenadines (seven members) – recognized for relentlessly maintaining conservation work following natural disaster. Lazizbek Khasanov, Head of the Department for Monitoring the Use of Resources, Ugam-Chatkal State National Park, Uzbekistan – recognized for diligently combating logging and poaching as a young ranger. Benjamin Yworega Bassono, Anti-Poaching Coordinator, Pô-Nazinga-Sissili Protected Areas Complex, Burkina Faso – recognized for expertly directing extensive anti-poaching and habitat restoration programs. Benson Kanyembo, Law Enforcement Advisor, South Luangwa, Zambia – recognized for consistently protecting Zambian wildlife and mentoring scouts over thirty years. Jampel Lhendup, Forest Ranger, Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan – recognized for rehabilitating endangered species and turning poachers into conservation advocates. Kiunga Marine National Reserve Ranger Team, Kenya (six members) – recognized for effectively protecting coral reefs, mangroves, and marine ecosystems throughout island areas. Allée des Baobabs Protection and Management Team, Madagascar (10 members) – recognized for boldly defending Madagascar’s forests against fire and human encroachment. Safarbi Davlatova, Forest Protection Inspector, Dashtijum Nature Reserve, Tajikistan – recognized for championing gender equality while conserving critically endangered species. Saidvaa National Park and southern Parvar Protected Area Ranger Team, Iran (nine members) – recognized for persistently addressing social and ecological obstacles to further conservation goals. Punta Patiño Private Natural Reserve Ranger Team, Panamá (seven members) – recognized for reliably safeguarding 30,000 hectares of rainforest, mangroves, and coastal areas. These awards do more than honor individual commitment—they raise global awareness of rangers’ critical role, motivate others through real-life stories, and provide tangible support that helps recipients continue their vital work. Every exceptional ranger recognized represents thousands more protecting our planet’s blue and green spaces for nature and humanity alike.
Asia-Pacific Conservation Leaders Gather at the IUCN World Conservation Congress
Conservation Allies and our Asia-Pacific partners came together today at WCC 2025 to share strategies for addressing the region’s pressing conservation challenges, from agricultural expansion and infrastructure development to poaching and human-wildlife conflict. In an energizing day of conservation networking, partners exchanged insights on community engagement and policy innovation, identified opportunities to scale up proven strategies, and forged new collaborations across the region’s biodiversity hotspots. One notable achievement comes from our partner Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF), as they have saved over 14,000 acres of ancient biodiversity forests across 120 villages in the northern Western Ghats—a global biodiversity hotspot. AERF also established the first community reserve in the Western Ghats dedicated to Endangered species including the Indian ground pangolin, Asiatic wild dog, Indian leopard, and Great hornbill. Furthermore, NGO Forum on Cambodia is advancing environmental policy reform to connect critical green spaces, while Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation is training wildlife enforcement officers in the Philippines. In Sumatra, Belantara Foundation tackles human-elephant conflict through innovative resolution programs. RSPN Bhutan rounds out this dynamic network of grassroots conservationists with their dedication to conserving the Critically Endangered White-bellied heron. Their work demonstrates what’s possible when local expertise meets long-term partnership. Conservation Allies is proud to stand alongside these organizations doing the hard work of protecting Asia’s irreplaceable biodiversity.
Conservation Allies Partners across Latin America Unite at the World Conservation Congress
In an exciting week of international conservation collaboration, Conservation Allies and ten of our Latin American partners convened today at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. Our partners are tackling urgent threats throughout Latin America—deforestation, illegal wildlife trade, and habitat fragmentation—with innovative, community-driven solutions. This year’s gathering showcases remarkable achievements: Defensores de la Naturaleza (Guatemala) now protects 14% of Guatemala’s National System of Protected Areas and recently completed the Biological Station “Hector Centeno” at Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve—a living laboratory for ecosystem research. FUNDAECO (Guatemala) has pioneered co-ownership of nature reserves with indigenous communities while supporting over 20 women’s health clinics and scholarships. AESMO (Honduras) has secured more than 5,930 acres for perpetual conservation through co-management with Indigenous partners ADOPTA (Panama) has described over 25 new species with 50+ more pending publication! Additional partners presenting include ANCON, Fundación Cambugan, Fundación ProAves, Así Conserva Chile, and Ekos Brasil (and Moises Bertoni in attendance)—each demonstrating how local expertise and international support create lasting conservation success. Through Conservation Action Awards totaling over $8.5 million, year-end matching funds for core operational needs, and promotion of fundraising appeals to our US donor network, Conservation Allies empowers organizations making measurable impact on the ground. We are very grateful to the UAE government for supporting all the costs (flights, accommodation, food, etc.) for our partners to participate in the World Conservation Congress.
Restoring Sumatra’s Ancient Forests: How Belantara Foundation is Becoming a Lifeline for Sumatran Tigers and Elephants
In the heart of Sumatra’s rapidly disappearing rainforests, the Forest Restoration Project by the Belantara Foundation is an ambitious initiative breathing life back into one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. A Critical Conservation Battleground The Giam Siak Kecil-Bukit Batu Biosphere Reserve spans 1.7 million acres of pristine peatland forest in Riau Province, Sumatra. This UNESCO-designated reserve serves as the last sanctuary for Critically Endangered Sumatran tigers and elephants, along with sun bears, clouded leopards, and Malayan tapirs. The peat swamp forests store massive amounts of carbon and house 189 plant species, with 29 classified as Endangered. Yet this ecological treasure faces unprecedented threats. Riau Province has witnessed devastating deforestation, with forest cover plummeting from 78% in 1982 to just 22% by 2009 due to illegal logging, palm oil expansion, and catastrophic forest fires. Seeds of Hope Since August 2020, Belantara Foundation’s Forest Restoration Project has systematically replanted degraded areas with native Indonesian tree species. The project has successfully restored 232 acres within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, transforming barren areas back into thriving forest habitat. This collaborative initiative works with local communities, governments, and the private sector using a multi-stakeholder approach. The project is funded through innovative corporate partnerships, including donations from paper manufacturer APP’s product sales – creating a direct link between responsible consumption and forest restoration. Global Impact The project directly contributes to four United Nations Sustainable Development Goals while providing sustainable economic opportunities for over 120,000 local residents who depend on the forest for their livelihoods. By focusing on peatland restoration, the initiative tackles climate change at its source – reforestation is recognized as one of the most effective climate change measures. Belantara Foundation aims to restore at least 25 acres of degraded peatland annually, serving as a model for landscape-scale restoration that other regions can adapt. Want to help them succeed? You can support Belantara’s conservation activities by donating to them today. Every acre restored helps protect biodiversity, fight climate change, and secure a healthier future for both people and wildlife.
Saving one of Madagascar’s most Endangered Forests
Conservation Allies supports critical protective actions and law enforcement for the unique dry forests of Bemarivo Reserve Deep in the remote Melaky region of northwest Madagascar lies the Bemarivo Special Reserve, a biodiversity hotspot that’s fighting for survival. This protected forest has already lost an alarming 64% of its original cover to illegal logging, but thanks to decisive action from our partner, there’s new hope for its recovery. The Crisis at Bemarivo Madagascar is home to more unique and endemic species at risk of extinction than anywhere else on Earth. The Bemarivo Special Reserve should be a safe haven for this incredible biodiversity, but illegal land grabs inside the Reserve have resulted in logging and clearing of the forest for farming. These illegal activities don’t just harm wildlife–they also set dangerous fires that can spread rapidly through the dry forest, destroying even more habitat and threatening ecosystems. Taking Action on the Ground Conservation Allies is supporting our local partner, TANJONA Association, in launching the first-ever Conservation Brigades in the Melaky region of Madagascar. Working closely with local government authorities (DREDD Melaky), the team carried out a comprehensive mission to stop further deforestation and protect what’s left of Bemarivo’s forests. The five-part operation included: Building Official Support: TANJONA presented their conservation plan to regional authorities and secured official backing for their protection efforts, including the deployment of a specialized Conservation Brigade. Coordinating Protection Forces: The team organized joint patrols with law enforcement officers to create a unified approach to forest protection. Educating Communities: Conservation officers visited nearby villages to explain why the reserve and its forests matter–not just for wildlife, but for clean water, climate stability, and long-term community wellbeing. Removing Illegal Settlements: Patrol teams discovered about 20 camps where people were illegally growing crops inside the Reserve. The occupants were escorted out of the Reserve. Installing Visible Deterrents: Eight new Reserve boundary signs were installed around the Reserve to clearly mark protected boundaries and remind people of the protections in place. Why This Matters This operation represents a turning point for forest conservation in Madagascar’s Bemarivo Special Reserve. By combining law enforcement with community education, the Conservation Brigades are addressing both the immediate threat and the underlying causes of forest destruction. Madagascar has already lost over 85% of its original forests, making every remaining Protected Area critically important for the island’s unique species. A Model for the Future This coordinated approach–bringing together government authorities, security forces, and local communities–is already showing results. The visible enforcement presence and community awareness campaigns are creating new respect for forest boundaries and wildlife protection laws. By backing local organizations like TANJONA Association, we’re helping protect some of the world’s most irreplaceable ecosystems while building the enforcement capacity needed for long-term success.