The numbers tell a grim tale: a staggering 29% of Madagascar's tree cover disappeared between 2001 and 2023, placing this biodiversity jewel as the 11th-ranked country worldwide for forest loss over that time period. To protect the thousands of species that can only be found in Madagascar’s forests, we must focus on protecting and restoring habitat. There are multiple threats to Madagascar’s habitats, and our program has taken different approaches to address the root of each threat.

A sign demarcating a protected area with grassy hills and a distant lake behind it.

Evan Buechley

Our Solutions

Protected Areas

We helped establish four protected areas to manage local resources sustainably while protecting threatened biodiversity. We manage Tsimembo-Manambolomaty and Mandrozo Protected Areas in the west and Bemanevika and Mahimborondro Protected Areas in the north.

Local Malagasys resting on a hillside surrounded by young tree saplings during forest restoration work.

The Peregrine Fund

Our Solutions

Reforestation

Since 2020, our teams and community partners have planted over one million trees across 700 hectares surrounding four protected areas. Each region receives tree species that are specific to community and ecological needs.

A forest of eucalyptus trees as seen from below looking straight up.

ekaterivnor / Pixabay

Our Solutions

Eucalyptus Plantations

When communities needed timber, we helped establish 820 hectares of Eucalyptus plantations, providing sustainable building materials without sacrificing ancient forests.

A scientist rowing a fiberglass canoe across a lake.

Russell Thorstrom

Our Solutions

Fiberglass Canoes

When coastal fishermen felled mature trees every two years for new dugout canoes, we introduced fiberglass alternatives that last over 16 years—saving more than 4,000 mature trees per 500 fishermen.

A burned section of grassland ending at a cleared, bare ground firebreak.

Russell Thorstrom

Our Solutions

Firebreaks

When slash-and-burn agriculture threatened to devour protected areas, local heroes created firebreaks—six-meter cleared boundaries maintained by hand during the dangerous fire season from June to August. This grueling work has repeatedly stopped devastating fires from claiming precious habitat.

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