Tragically, 90% of Madagascar’s primary forest has been lost, yet the 109 terrestrial Protected Areas that remain hold the densest concentrations of endemic and threatened species anywhere on Earth. Yet these last bastions of biodiversity are under immense pressure from illegal logging, gold mining, and politically driven clearing for commercial agriculture.
Recognizing what is at stake for both Madagascar and the planet, Conservation Allies has already mobilized more than $7 million to support over 85% of all terrestrial Protected Areas in Madagascar—93 protected areas in total.
This announcement formalizes the first phase of a landmark five-year commitment to support 38 local conservation organizations that manage Protected Areas across the country.
What The Funding Will Do
The funding is designed to strengthen the protection of Madagascar’s Protected Areas in two strategic and interconnected ways.
- Continuous coverage by Conservation Brigades—composed of defense and security forces protecting environment ministry agents and Protected Area managers—will help deter illegal logging, mining, forest fires, and wildlife trafficking, while safeguarding watersheds and Critically Endangered species.
- At the same time, Conservation Healthcare Brigades are being established in communities surrounding dozens of Protected Areas facing the greatest pressure. These brigades will expand access to medical and family planning services for rural populations whose long-term stewardship is essential to the future of Madagascar’s forests.
A New Strategic Partnership
This year’s support initiative was launched during a ceremony marking the signing of a Memorandum of Collaboration between Conservation Allies and the Madagascar Biodiversity and Protected Areas Foundation (FAPBM), formalizing a strategic partnership focused on long-term financing for Madagascar’s Protected Areas.
This MoU was signed in the presence of representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Développement (MEDD), reflecting a shared commitment between government institutions and conservation organizations to strengthen the protection and sustainable management of Madagascar’s protected areas.
“This financial mobilization marks a major milestone in strengthening sustainable financing for Protected Areas in Madagascar,” said Dr. Rija Ranaivoarison, Executive Director of FAPBM. “It reflects the trust of our partners and helps consolidate the efforts undertaken in the field for the benefit of biodiversity and communities.”
Dr. Paul Salaman, President of Conservation Allies added: “Madagascar is the most irreplaceable biodiversity hotspot on Earth, yet its protected areas remain dangerously underfunded relative to the scale of the threats they face. Our commitment reflects our belief that long-term conservation success depends on long-term investment in local organizations, frontline protection, and the well-being of communities living alongside these forests.”
This commitment recognizes that conservation in a country like Madagascar cannot be sustained by short funding cycles alone. It requires long-term investment in the people, institutions, and field operations that hold the entire system together. That is the work Conservation Allies is committed to supporting.