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Geranium cutting

Antsirabe Madagascar Project

DERRIERE L'ARBRE, L'HUMAIN

By being a patron of "Coeur de Forêt," we support the sustainable valorization of forests to enable communities to meet their needs without resorting to deforestation.

The fair-trade Moringa vegetable oil used by the Bastide d’Isalinore is sourced from small local producers and directly imported from the island of Madagascar.

We contribute a percentage of our sales to support the overall activities of the Madagascar Antsirabe project (Patronage Agreement between La Bastide d'Isalinore and Coeur de Forêt for the period 2023-2025, dated 17/02/2023).

Harvesting Geranium green mass

The Antsirabe project is located on the Malagasy Highlands, at an average altitude of 1500m, under a temperate climate with high temperatures but a cold season during our summer, lower rainfall than in Paris, and abundant sunlight.

Originally centered around the city of Antsirabe, it now extends to a wider area:

- Ibity (south of Antsirabe) and Mandoto (west of Antsirabe), both in the Vakinankaratra region.

- Since this year, the Itasy, Antsinanana, and Mananjary regions (Vatovavy Region) due to Cyclones Batsirai.

The landscapes consist of "tanety," hillsides that are sparsely wooded and difficult to cultivate and terraced lowlands more suitable for subsistence farming. The Malagasy population has multiplied by six since the 1960s and faces a reduction in cultivable land and soil fertility.

Madagascar is known to be a global priority in terms of biodiversity conservation, with over 80% endemism (species found only on the island). However, it also faces one of the highest rates of deforestation and biodiversity loss, mainly due to wood consumption for domestic use and family agriculture causing soil impoverishment and soil erosion, reducing producer yields and increasing vulnerability.

To address these challenges, the project has set three objectives:

1. Rebuild, preserve and sustainably manage forests, combining ecosystem preservation and services to local populations.

2. Train and support producers in agroecology and develop short supply chains for their benefit.

3. Raise awareness and engage the general public and schools to understand the issues of deforestation and existing solutions.

Reforestation Madagascar

Cultivation in agroforestry

This translates into planting 100,000 to 150,000 trees annually, training 10 producers each year for technical and financial autonomy, supporting four existing producer groups, and implementing awareness programs in schools and the general public.

Coeur de Forêt conducts reforestation actions, supports small producers in organic and fair trade essential oil production and leads environmental preservation awareness programs in schools.

Testimony from Lauréat Mandresilahatra, Country Director Madagascar at Coeur de Forêt:

"I sense a positive evolution in the mindset of the Malagasy populations and authorities since I took office in 2018, particularly regarding the acceptance of diversifying planted species (initially limited to eucalyptus, acacia, and pine) and integrating agro-ecological plots near forests. CDF Madagascar is increasingly sought after because we provide planning, planting advice, follow-up in subsequent years and ongoing project awareness. We will enhance our support for producers towards agroecological production, incorporating food crops, fruit trees and fuelwood production through tree pruning in the fields. This will improve living conditions and reduce pressure on forests."

Plantation Monitoring

Agroforestry in Andepombe

Reforestation campaign with schools to raise awareness among children

Summary of Key Interventions in 2021

In 2021, patrons' donations enabled Coeur de Forêt to preserve trees and support the entire project's activities to combat deforestation and preserve biodiversity. Here is a summary of key interventions:

1. The 2021 reforestation campaign planted 226,430 trees on 34 distinct sites, covering 145 hectares.

2. To refine its intervention logic in the Vakinankaratra region, a forest diagnostic was completed, focusing on wooded ecosystems, deforestation factors, household wood and tree needs.
This diagnosis focuses on the different wooded ecosystems in the region and their management models, deforestation factors, as well as the wood and tree needs of households.
It highlighted the insufficient forest resources and a certain solidarity for accessing existing resources, especially in the Mandoto District. It identified "gallery forests" (riparian forests), rare pockets of forests located in low-lying areas along riverbanks, threatened by the expansion of rice fields.
It will allow the definition of a new intervention approach related to the Mandoto District (agroforestry, reforestation, awareness and preservation of gallery forests).

3. Sensitization programs in schools were impacted by health restrictions, but the Sensitization Guide of Coeur de Forêt for teachers/students on environmental issues was completed and approved by the Malagasy Regional Directorate of National Education. It covers themes directly or indirectly affecting local populations: air and water pollution, soil erosion, forests, agroecology, energy, aromatic and medicinal plants. Online awareness actions and thematic days were conducted.

4. Coeur de Forêt deepened its impact measurement methods for reforestation. Initially tracking tree species, the number of trees planted and mortality rates, it now monitors the impact on soil fertility restoration and biodiversity return.

Reforestation campaign with schools to raise awareness among children

Fiombonana distillation

5. A new cohort of 10 producers, including 50% women, completed a one-year training in ecological transition, agricultural entrepreneurship and governance. Another cohort began its training, totaling 20 producers trained in 2021. Concurrently, Coeur de Forêt continues to support five producer groups (Equimada, Taratra, Fanantenana, Fivoarana Tafaray, Fiombonana), covering 18 hectares of crops.

6. In early 2021, the Fon’Ala marketing company obtained Ecocert Madagascar's organic certification for 16 essential oils and 8 vegetable oils.

Ibity Nurseries