Conservation Programs
Salama Atiala: Healthy Forest
Fire Management
In 2014/2015, we kicked off our fire management project. We assembled a fire management team consisting of 18 hired local residents from the three core communities. We cut firebreaks to protect forest fragments from uncontrolled fire. We have trained our fire management teams in fire monitoring techniques, including how to record instances of fire using a handheld GPS. We combine these practical measures with conservation education. Our experience has underlined the importance of fire management and fire prevention education programs in this region. We are inspired to continue and expand our work, with an even stronger focus on alleviating fire in Ankarafantsika National Park.
Forest Restoration
We work to cultivate and plant new trees in Ankarafantsika National Park. We focus on two types of restoration, restoring fragmented landscapes to create corridors that connect existing fragments to continuous forest and erosion control through forest restoration where we plant trees to reduce the impact of erosion. We hire and train local community members to work with our on-the-ground Planet Madagascar staff members to identify target plant species, collect seeds, build and manage tree nurseries, and plant seedlings. Community members benefit through a salary-based program, thereby providing them with much-needed revenue and by receiving the direct benefits of erosion control through forest restoration.