The WWF is run at a local level by the following offices...

Andapotaly - Tanandahy, from a bare land to a mangrove forest

Posted on 17 September 2021

Andapotaly-Tanandahy is a village located 100 km north of Morondava in the commune of Belo sur Tsiribihina. This village is at the mouth of the Tsiribihina River.

Ten years ago, a zone located in the village was identified following a scientific field study with the support of the University of Antananarivo as being favorable for a mangrove plantation. WWF sensitized the villagers of Andapotaly-Tanandahy on the opportunity that this bare area represents if mangroves were planted there: ecological services, sources of income, embellishment of the landscape... After several exchanges between the two parties, the community gave its agreement to make the bare area a site of mangrove reforestation or even an ecological restoration site because all the services provided by this ecosystem would be present.

The local community association carried out mangrove reforestation on an area of 12 hectares in Andapotaly-Tanandahy in 2011. Later, a helping hand from nature contributed to the restoration. The area has recovered its ability to regenerate itself. We currently have a dense forest of mangroves in place of the bare area. By 2021, the total area restored is 67 hectares. Women are particularly diligent when it comes to planting mangroves. For example, the women of Andapotaly-Tanandahy have created an association whose purpose is to coordinate mangrove reforestation. Animal species such as crabs, shrimps and fishes come to live in these mangroves, their place of growth and development. The restored area has also become a migration site for pink flamingos who come here to forage for food.

WWF Madagascar supported the villagers of Andapotaly-Tanandahy to structure a community-based organization that now manages these restored mangroves and the natural resources that live there. The community organization also supports its members in improving household income and well-being through income diversification and leadership capacity building for good governance of the village's natural resources.