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Exemplary community management for the benefit of mangroves and communities in Ankameva

Posted on 11 April 2025

Created in 2001, the community-based organization of Ankameva, in the Ambilobe district of the Diana region, has been working for over twenty years to restore and protect mangroves, while at the same time engaging in activities designed to improve their livelihoods.

Over the past eight years, the Ankameva community has restored 194.4 ha of mangroves. After restoration, which takes place between December and March each year, the communities carry out a quarterly check-up to remove the brush and sand deposited by the tide, facilitating plant growth and good water circulation.

Mangrove conservation is vital, especially for the fisheries that support the livelihood of the whole community, and which mainly involve fish, shrimps, crayfish and prawns. Only two species of fish are affected by the closure: Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) and black-tailed sardinella (Sardinella melanura). During the opening period, which generally lasts only 1 or 2 months (April-May), the daily quantity caught per fisherman can reach 50 to 100 kg when fish are abundant. Once this period is over, the quantity gradually decreases. For shrimp, catches vary from 20 to 100 kg per pirogue (a pirogue can carry 1 to 4 fishermen) during the opening period, representing an average daily catch of 10 to 50 kg per fisherman.

Crabs, meanwhile, are fished exclusively for subsistence. In the past, crabs were hard to come by, but today harvests are much better, thanks to community involvement in mangrove management.

Mangrove restoration mainly involves the women, who are highly motivated and available, while the men, who are often busy with fishing activities, devote more time to community patrols. These include clearing undergrowth, installing firewalls, and monitoring for any offence in managed areas.

The Ankameva community-based organization embodies a model of inclusive, equitable and sustainable management. Their unwavering commitment to mangrove restoration and management plays a crucial role in preserving this local ecosystem and maintaining livelihoods. Their involvement, especially of women, in conservation actions not only strengthens local biodiversity, but also guarantees them greater food security and a sustainable income. Proof that working with and for nature is essential to building a greener, more sustainable future.