This summer, Conservation Allies’ leadership joined our three Madagascar Conservation Officers for an intensive month of conservation work across the island. The focus was on strengthening partnerships, training local teams in practical conservation tools, and supporting proven strategies that protect Madagascar’s unique ecosystems.
Major Success in Core Zone Protection
Our partnership with Madagasikara Voakajy produced significant results at the Mangabe-Ranomena-Sahasarotra site this year. Between November 2024 and January 2025, a large-scale conservation brigade involving multiple government agencies successfully removed 417 illegal structures and relocated approximately 1,080 people from core conservation zones.
When teams returned in February for a control mission, they found zero returns to the core zone – demonstrating that well-coordinated enforcement can achieve lasting results. This type of coordinated effort between local organizations and government agencies represents the practical approach needed to protect Madagascar’s most critical habitats from encroachment and illegal activities.
We also met with women’s societies in two villages and observed nursery operations, highlighting how conservation work extends beyond enforcement to include community engagement and restoration efforts.
Training Programs Show Immediate Impact
We conducted capacity-building workshops in both northern and southern Madagascar, training 62 participants from 24 partner organizations in essential conservation tools, including Global Forest Watch for deforestation monitoring, SMART technology for patrol planning, drone operations, and Conservation Brigade coordination. The approach focused on practical skills that teams could implement immediately rather than theoretical concepts.
The training proved effective quickly. Within two weeks, Madagascar National Parks at Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park used Global Forest Watch alerts to successfully apprehend five offenders involved in deforestation activities. Similarly, Conservation Allies partner Antrema Miray intercepted three individuals engaged in illegal tree cutting after receiving real-time alerts. These results demonstrate how technology tools can enhance traditional conservation methods when properly integrated into existing operations.
The workshops also addressed practical challenges like bringing traditional authorities during patrols for some protected areas while avoiding local community participation in others, depending on site-specific security concerns.
Building on Established Partnerships
Our participation in the International Primatological Society Congress in Antananarivo connected us with over 800 attendees and reinforced partnerships with key organizations including GERP, Fanamby, Ny Tanintsika, Madagasikara Voakajy, Lemur Conservation Foundation, Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership, Biodiversity Conservation Madagascar, CURSA, and Madagascar National Parks. The congress provided valuable opportunities to coordinate with partners and learn from presentations by researchers and practitioners working across Madagascar’s conservation landscape.
We also held strategic meetings with Madagascar National Parks and FAPBM to prepare for the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress in October, where partners will celebrate significant milestones: FAPBM’s 20th anniversary, Madagascar National Parks’ 35th anniversary, and Madagasikara Voakajy’s 20th anniversary. These long-term partnerships form the foundation for sustained conservation impact across Madagascar.
The summer also brought encouraging news that UNESCO removed the “Rainforests of the Atsinanana” World Heritage site from the Danger List. This site includes six protected areas in eastern Madagascar, including Andohahela, where Conservation Allies provide ongoing support, representing years of collective conservation efforts paying off.
Conservation Allies President, Paul Salaman, working in Andohahela Protected Area.
Infrastructure and Next Steps
Working with Madagascar National Parks and Association Fosa, we’re supporting essential infrastructure development in Ankarafantsika National Park (NW Madagascar), including establishing a surveillance base in the Grand Savannah and rehabilitating access roads to zones facing deforestation and fire threats. These practical investments in conservation infrastructure enable more effective long-term protection of critical areas.
Our monitoring data from the south of the country show that sites like Zombitse, Complex Mangoky-Ihotry, Corridor Fandriana-Vonrozo (COFAV), Midongy du Sud, Ranobe PK 32, and Andohahela face the highest deforestation pressure, with slash-and-burn farming being a primary driver. This data guides our decision to visit at least one of these high-threat sites monthly and continue expanding the successful training and technology programs that proved effective this summer across our 15 supported protected areas.
The intensive conservation work across Madagascar this summer demonstrates that coordinated efforts can achieve lasting results. The success at Mangabe-Ranomena-Sahasarotra and the immediate achievements of technology-trained teams prove that practical, implementable solutions work when properly supported. As Conservation Allies expands these proven strategies across Madagascar, the focus remains on building local capacity and strengthening partnerships to safeguard the island’s irreplaceable biodiversity for future generations.