The PK 32 Ranobe New Protected Area in
the Fiherenana Manombo Landscape
Project title: “Enhancing civil society capacity in forest monitoring, law enforcement, and
sustainable livelihoods, in Pk32 Ranobe’’
1. Introduction
The Fiherenana Manombo area has a very rich biodiversity. It is home to various rare species of fauna and
flora endemic to the southwestern region of Madagascar, and even to the landscape. However, this rich
biodiversity is highly threatened, as the forest is submitted to serious anthropogenic pressures. Indeed,
two activities having very devastating consequences on the natural resources are observed : slash and
burn agriculture or Hatsake and the anarchic and illegal production of charcoal.
Through the establishment of the PK 32 Ranobe New Protected Area (NPA), WWF undertook since a few
years, with the funding of Norad, a project aiming at minimizing these threats by strengthening forest law
enforcement, while supporting the development of alternative activities for the people who depend most
on these natural resources for their livelihoods.
Moreover, besides its importance for nature conservation, the PA is also vital for the local populations, as
it provides them goods and services. Indeed, the livelihoods and survival of some classes of local
populations rely on the natural resources of the PA.
2. Project Objective
The main objective of the project is to combine a profitable, fast and innovative forest monitoring by the
use of aerial surveillance and targeted patrols with a package of interventions locally adapted to encourage
the local communities to maintain and increase the carbon stocks.
This will be done through four specific objectives:
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To ensure a better enforcement of forest laws, the « dina », and the monitoring and improvement
of the NPA management :
To support the contribution of all the stakeholders to lessen the pressures on these precious
forests;
To reduce hatsake and the production of charcoal from natural forests by developing alternative
activities and improving agriculture such as the rehabilitation of irrigated perimeters, the
introduction of new crops, agriforestry and AGR compatible with environment conservation and
ecotourism involving local communities;
To decrease the needs of the town of Toliara in charcoal through the spreading of economic stoves
and the promotion of reforestation actions;
3. Achievements and impacts
Following are the achievements during FY12:
For the objective 1
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Management Transfer of Natural Resources (TGRN) to the COBA (or grassroots
communities). Two new Transfers of management of Natural Resources have been done with
the COBA of Tsidiavalomongo and Mandraraho Ampatika d’Andoharano. These TGRN are part of
the zoning process and the involvement of the local communities in the management and
valorization of the natural resources of the PK 32 Ranobe NPA.
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Development and establishment of governance and management structures for the
NPA. The appropriate governance for this new protected area is a “co management” involving
various stakeholders. Moreover, the SAPM (Protected Area System of Madagascar) has
recommended some principles for the establishment of the governance of a NPA, including the
subsidiarity, which hands the responsibility and the management of the natural resources to the
communities who are closest to the resources. Thus two Local Management Units (LMU) have
been established at two levels: LMU at the municipal level and two structures at the
Intermunicipal level, called sectors. Therefore there is the Fiherenana sector grouping four LMU
and the Manombo sector, also grouping four LMU
LMUs play the role of: (i): ensuring the monitoring and preservation of natural resources,
especially those at the level of the hard cores, through the polisin’ala and the Dina Enforcement
Commissions ( DEC), (ii) developing alternative activities for people affected by the project,
through Sustainable Development Commissions (CDD).
A new zoning and delimitation of the NPA. Taking into account the local context and the
process of acquiring the permanent Protected Area status, we conducted a new zoning and
delimitation of the NPA. We therefore have the following data:
Size of the NPA: 148 553.932 ha
o Forests on Limestone: 84 452.26 ha
o Forest on Red Sands: 28 424 ha (mine included)
o Hard Core (HC) Ampihalia : 3042.609 ha
o HC Andoharano : 3 483.983 ha
o HC Maroforoha: 3 283.116 ha
o HC Ranobe: 1 398.173 ha
o HC Anjamala (under delimitation)
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For the achievement of the objective 2
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Implementation of joint patrols between the Forest Service Officers, the police and
WWF. Patrol and monitoring missions were focused on the hard cores and the points identified
as agricultural frontiers. Aerial surveys conducted in November 2011 and in June 2012 allowed to
observe that the cleared areas have not increased much in the patrolled areas.
For the achievement of the objectives 3
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After the establishment of the LMU, and the sustainable development commission, alternative
activities can finally be developed with the people really affected by the project. They will organize
themselves as grassroots associations to facilitate communication and to enable the establishment
of conservation contracts with them.
During FY 12, about 900 villagers were involved in the activities led in collaboration with AVSF (
Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontrières).
Rehabilitation works of the irrigation canals of Maromiandra are underway. These infrastructures
will really contribute to reducing the hatsake since many clearers will be able to cultivate their
lands in the villages.
4. Challenges
The main challenges of the project are:
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To protect the NPA, zero illegal activities at the level of the hard cores.
To establish operational and effective Local management units of the PA
To establish conservation contracts in return for development support
The effective enforcement of laws and regulations governing the use of these natural resources;
To develop and implement safeguard actions and measures to control the negative impacts of the
establishment of the PA on the social, cultural and economical lives of the local communities;
To value the natural resources so that conservation may bring economic gains to the local
populations (The local communities’ ownership of the PA ensures its sustainability).
5. Fundings
NORAD
6. Partners
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The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Grassroots communities
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