The Ranobe Complex & Lower Onilahy River Valley
Introduction
After over 30 years of promoting conservation activities in Madagascar that focused on targeted terrestrial habitats, protected areas and species, WWF embarked on ambitious landscape ecoregion conservation programs in 1997. The first of these programs was the Ala Maiky (Dry Forest) Ecoregion Program.
The successful of targeted protected areas would be dependent
on wise management of larger landscapes including degraded natural areas, agro-pastoral areas, and adjacent coastal zones and marine resources. This project seeks to further refine and initiate implementation of a long-term vision and planning for the conservation of these unique landscapes that includes catalyzing important regional programs for addressing the macro-economic
root causes for biodiversity loss and a related increase in rural poverty.
Within the Ala Maiky Program (including a marine sub-program component), this is an important opportunity for learning on integrated sea and landscape approaches with local communities management protected areas, conservation zones, and habitat restoration processes. It serves also in developing approaches for socially acceptable livelihood alternatives compatible with restoring healthy ecosystems, and this with large-scale public and private sector engagements toward these ends.
on wise management of larger landscapes including degraded natural areas, agro-pastoral areas, and adjacent coastal zones and marine resources. This project seeks to further refine and initiate implementation of a long-term vision and planning for the conservation of these unique landscapes that includes catalyzing important regional programs for addressing the macro-economic
root causes for biodiversity loss and a related increase in rural poverty.
Within the Ala Maiky Program (including a marine sub-program component), this is an important opportunity for learning on integrated sea and landscape approaches with local communities management protected areas, conservation zones, and habitat restoration processes. It serves also in developing approaches for socially acceptable livelihood alternatives compatible with restoring healthy ecosystems, and this with large-scale public and private sector engagements toward these ends.
Map of Onilahy River
Project Data
- Executant: Bernardin Rasolonandrasana
- Managing Office: WWF Madagascar and West Indian Ocean Programme Office
- Address: WWF Madagascar and West Indian Ocean Programme Office / B.P. 738 Antananarivo 101 / Madagascar / +261 20 22 348 85
Project Objectives
The long-term goal of the project is to reverse the present land and marine degradation tendencies and to restore coastal habitats and ecosystems through sustainable natural resource management that supports compatible livelihoods of present and future generations in the local communities.
This long term-goal will be met through the following four specific objectives :
- Finalizing conservation management planning and initiating conservation actions and restoration programs;
- Achieving Category V Protected Area Status;
- Developing coherent rural development actions with a diversity of program partners and;
- Engaging private, public, and NGO sectors in long-term programs that contribute to the management objectives of the protected areas.
Community meeting outside Ambohimahavelo alongside the Onilahy river
Project description
The Toliara Land and Seascape Conservation Program works around two of the nine priority biodiversity conservation areas identified within the Spiny Forest Ecoregion that are just to the south and the north of the provincial (and regional) capital of Toliara, that of the Ranobe Complex and of the Onilahy River Valley and Delta.
These areas are undoubtedly the most threatened of the nine and yet they have received the least support to date from conservation organizations and funding bodies. These two areas have not only a geographical similarity in relation to their proximity to Toliara and the human threats rooted there; they have similar variations in habitats.
Each conservation area has terrestrial habitats on calcareous formations, on sandy soils, mangrove ecosystems, and extremely unique freshwater systems. In addition, they are located along side of the world’s third largest coral reef ecosystem.
The project has the following seven components or results packages:
Each conservation area has terrestrial habitats on calcareous formations, on sandy soils, mangrove ecosystems, and extremely unique freshwater systems. In addition, they are located along side of the world’s third largest coral reef ecosystem.
The project has the following seven components or results packages:
- Capacity building for co-management and formal protected area status,
- Institutional and NGO Program Support for Coherent Rural Development,
- Established social Norms are legitimate and applied,
- Securing long term funding,
- A functioning marine Conservation Component,
- Coherent Private Sector Investments,
- Mining sector engagement in the Conservation Plan.
Onilahy Landscape
Bernardin Rasolonandrasana from WWF Toliara
Achievements Impacts
- WWF was instrumental in catalyzing the creation of Intercommunal Associations for each of the two sites. MITOIMAFI (Miaro ny Tontolo Iainana Manombo Fiherenana) is the association that is set to manage the Ranobe area and it groups eight (8) rural communes. For the Lower Onilahy Valley and Delta, there is a grouping of 14 rural communes in the Public Organism for Intercommunal Cooperation “OPCI” named OHEMIHA (Onilahy Heniany Mitambatse Handroso). These structures are formally recognized and have functioning management committees that have a principle objective of maintaining ecosystems for both conservation and for the socio-economic livelihoods of present and future generations.
- Both OHEMIHA and MITOMAFI have established Dina, or locally recognized social norms and rules, relative to the use and transformation of forest areas.
- Ranobe complex have finished initial conservation management plans based on “The Nature Conservancy” (a US based NGO) methods for landscape conservation management planning, while Lower Onilahy Valley plan has to be completed. These methods are becoming widely recognized as a standard tool for planning large-scale conservation initiatives. This planning however will require periodic refinement and modification, especially in light of probable mining projects.
- Both sites have prepared conservation and agricultural/pastoral zoning plans. The Lower Onilahy River Valley site has obtained temporary protection status for a protected area (valid for two years and until the time that formal procedures are completed for definitive protected area status). The documentation for temporary protected area status has been prepared for the Ranobe site has yet submitted.
- Each site has developed a communications plan targeting various social groups and actors including regional leaders and politicians, private sector operators, and to diverse local social groups, including marginalized populations such as migrants. Aside from public forums, WWF is actively using rural FM radio broadcasts and rural theater productions to communicate conservation goals and messages, the dina, and information on the temporary protection status.
- The communes in the Ranobe region have been assisted in the revisions of their communal development plans (PCD) with the future protected area program playing a central or federating role in catalyzing rural development. To note that there has been no to date mention of conservation planning for the coastal and marine areas (as no conservation planning has initiated).
Market in Toliara, Madagascar
Rice paddies on the way from Antananarivo to Toliara
Challenges
In addition to local and regional threats, there is another challenge related to ensuring potential win-win scenarios with the potentially large scale open-air mining projects that are presently in the feasibility study stage. These projects, a titanium sands mining project within the Ranobe Area and a calcareous quarry mining operation within the Onilahy Area will increase migration into the area and potential pressures on natural habitats. Within the overall social context, this conservation program need to have a strong focus on leveraging funds and partners that can successfully « market » alternative livelihoods and activities. Only a small percentage of these livelihoods can be directly or indirectly linked to conservation or ecotourism initiatives, the rest will remain in the production sector.