Mila ny tany anao: celebrating World Environment Day in Madagascar

by Anselme Toto Volahy, Durrell Madagascar Programme

Each year Madagascar celebrates World Environment Day and Durrell is involved with events throughout the island. All of our projects and local teams take an active role in these celebrations with the specific goal of raising our local profile and increasing awareness about the work we are doing with key species and habitats. Our more general goal is to raise overall awareness of the importance of the environment in the health and welfare of local communities.

In 2009, events were held in each of 22 regions throughout the island. The theme was "Mila ny tany anao, Ndao hiara hiady amin'ny fiovaovan'ny toetr'andro" which loosely translates as “We need a healthy environment, so let us fight climate change together”.

Durrell has been working with local communities in the Menabe region to save a number of threatened locally endemic species including the Vositse (giant jumping rat), Kapidolo (flat-tailed tortoise), and the Bokiboky (narrow-striped mongoose). This year, World Environment Day celebrations were held in the village of Miandrivazo in the Menabe region which lies on the western coast of Madagascar. Several environmental NGOs participated, including our local team led by Anselme and Coco representing Durrell at the event.

The Celebration was opened by a musical and energetic parade including all participants from local school children, to local officials, and various environmental groups. This was followed by a series of speeches from respected authorities on the importance of halting the progressive destruction of the environment, not just locally but together throughout the country.

Each participating organisation had it’s own stand. Durrell’s exhibition centred on our flagship species (Vositse and Kapidolo) but also had a photo display of the other locally endemic species of Menabe. We also explained Durrell’s goals and activities in Madagascar, with emphasis on the priority activities being carried out in the Menabe region.

One of the accomplishments actively honoured at this year’s celebration was the formalisation of the transfer of management of Lakes Begogo and Mahombe to local community control. Recognising the importance of the lakes in terms of their rich biodiversity, and value to local villagers, the village of Tsianaloky made the decision to protect and preserve the lakes through the establishment of a contract signed with the technical services of the Ministry of Eaux et Forets.

The strong turn-out by surrounding villagers, governmental departments, environmental organisations, and local authorities represented a major success for the event. All participants unanimously agreed that the future of the Menabe region would depend on safeguarding the environment through integration of sound resource management within community management plans.