Madagascar - Africa
69% of the population in Madagascar live below the poverty line. Through an ‘Employ-to-Restore’ approach, the project provides stable employment and fair wages in a region where economic opportunities are limited, breaking the cycle of poverty and building economic resilience.
Madagascar is home to extensive biodiversity and varying landscapes with forests at the core of its social, environmental and economic wellbeing. Spanning 1540 hectares, this site on the Northwest of the Island, is not a single forest, but a connected landscape of mangroves, raffia swamp, dune forest, and dry forest. It is a place where fauna and flora thrive, and where the people are deeply intertwined with their natural surroundings.
Through our partnerships we can deliver climate, biodiversity and local community benefits. Locals guide planting, monitoring, and protection efforts, ensuring that restoration is rooted in local knowledge and long-term stewardship.
The Ankilahila Coastal Restoration & Conservation Project
The Importance of Reforestation in Madagascar
Tree Species to be Planted
Rhizophora Mucronata is a slow-growing, evergreen tree growing up to 27 metres tall, with a bole 50 - 70 cm in diameter. The tree produces numerous stilt roots from the base. One seed is developed per fruit and starts to germinate when the fruit is still attached or hanging on the tree. The root (radicle) gradually protrudes from the fruit, at first like a green cigar, then grows into a rod-like structure. In this species such a seedling root (hypocotyl) with a rough and warty surface may attain a considerable length (sometimes over 100 cm), the largest and longest in the genus.
Bruguiera Gymnorhiza has the largest leaves, flowers, propagules and lenticels of all Bruguiera species. The name Large-Leafed Orange Mangrove comes from the orange flowers and the large leaves that can reach up to 25cm in length. They grow about 20 to 25 degrees north and south of the equator in an area with subtropical to tropical climates. These conditions enable this evergreen tree to produce leaves and shoots during the whole year. The leaves have an elliptic shape, the upper side is smooth and dark green, the bottom is waxy and light green. Occasionally three or four leaves are formed simultaneously.
Ceriops Tagal is a medium-sized tree growing to a height of 25 metres (80 ft) with a trunk diameter of up to 45 cm (18 in). The growth habit is columnar or multi-stemmed and the tree develops large buttress roots. The radiating anchor roots are sometimes exposed and may loop up in places. The bark is silvery-grey to orangeish-brown, smooth with occasional pustular lenticels.
In mangrove and dune forest zones, replanting and conservation activities play a crucial role in stabilising coastal soils and protecting shorelines from erosion and storm surges. These restored ecosystems will also provide essential food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife, while serving as important nursery habitats for commercially valuable fish and shellfish.
In Madagascar, mangrove ecosystems support a rich diversity of species, particularly birds, marine life, and reptiles. Common bird species include herons, egrets, and kingfishers such as the Madagascar kingfisher. Reptiles such as the Nile crocodile and nearby sea turtles are also found in these environments. Mangroves are especially vital for marine life, acting as nursery grounds for fish, crabs, mudskippers, and mollusks.
Smaller mammals, including tenrecs and certain lemurs such as the mongoose lemur, may inhabit or visit these areas, alongside bats and a wide variety of insects. Overall, Madagascar’s mangroves are essential for maintaining coastal biodiversity and supporting healthy marine ecosystems.
Mangroves are incredible for so many reasons, stemming from their ability to grow and thrive on the boundary of ocean and land.
The trees’ unique adaptations to salinity make wherever they grow a vital haven for wildlife and an important resource for the hundreds of millions of people living near these ecosystems. Their importance to people and wildlife could not be any clearer as ever-growing impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss threaten our planet.
Mangroves are some of the most powerful trees on our planet. Mangrove soils are highly effective carbon sinks. They are among the most carbon-rich tropical ecosystems globally and can contain more carbon per square metre than tropical rainforests. An acre of mangroves can store 5 to 10 times more carbon that an acre of rainforest, therefore, planting and conserving these amazing forests is essential to the wellbeing of our planet and people.
Mangrove species do not require planting nurseries. At 3-5 years of age, mangroves begin to produce propagules (seeds), which give rise to a new tree.
Propagules are collected from existing trees or from trees previously planted. The locals separate them by species and inspect them one by one at the nearby village. Then they are distributed to the planting team according to the species mix determined for each area of the planting site.
Propagules grow throughout the year, only during the dry season (May-October) with less rainfall they collect less propagules. Propagules can also be planted year-round in Madagascar.
Regular annual site inspections are carried out by local governmental authorities: The Madagascar Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development. They provide a DREDD Certificate, which is an official third-party Project Survey and Project Scope/Boundary Certification.
Madagascar, one of the poorest countries in the world, faces severe social challenges that disproportionately affect women. Many experience ongoing physical, emotional, and financial abuse, often compounded by a pattern of family abandonment during difficult times.
This project addresses these issues by creating stable employment opportunities that provide security and long-term prospects. Empowering women is a central priority, with some teams made up of up to 90% women, and 3 out of 4 of the leadership team are women.
Dignified work enables financial independence, allowing women to support their children’s education and save money. It also provides time to develop additional skills such as sewing, pottery, and other crafts.
Communities also benefit from sustainable local industries, including the responsible harvesting of raffia palm for traditional crafts and markets.
Managed timberland areas further support livelihoods while protecting nearby forests. By supplying renewable wood and reducing reliance on native forests, they help ease environmental pressure. These areas are locally managed through careful planning, replanting, and oversight to ensure long-term sustainability.
In Partnership with local experts ARC Reforestation.
Restoring Ecosystems & Biodiversity
The Power of Marine Forests
Economic Resilience & Equal Opportunities
Certified Reforestation