Conservation International Hands Over Solar Power Plant and Cold Room to Communities in Madagascar
As part of efforts to strengthen sustainable management of marine resources, protect biodiversity and enhance community livelihoods in Ambodivahibe Bay in North Eastern Madagascar, Conservation International handed over a solar power plant and cold room to local communities on 8th November 2019.
The people of Ampondrahazo and Ambavarano that benefitted from the donation are part of the Ambodivahibe marine protected area that CI is co-managing with communities grouped under MITAFA Platform.
The power plant supplies clean electricity to run the cold room that can preserve up to 2 tonnes of fish and other products, thus reducing losses for the impoverished communities that rely heavily on fishing. It also delivers power to Sixty-two households and two schools in the area and a church.
“The electricity is also expected unlock a range of new economic opportunities including ecotourism for communities in the area,”” said Sahondra Rajoelina, CI-Madagascar Country Director.
During the handover, women associations also received tent shelters and cooking utensils meant to prepare local delicacies to tourists and sewing gears for handcrafting. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and fisheries handed over engine-powered boat with 2 motors to enhance sustainable fishing activities.
Ambodivahibe Bay received its final status as a marine protected area in 2015. Its management is delegated by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to Conservation International, which co-manages it with the communities.
The bay is recognized for its richness in marine biodiversity following marine rapid assessments in 2006 and 2010 as well as a and a vulnerability assessment to climate change in 2012. But it faces threats such as overfishing, degradation of surrounding forests and global warming among others.
To ensure sustainable tapping of marine resources, the communities have committed to periodic fishing closures, using fishing nets with recommended sizes to catch only mature fish and monitoring of the bay to prevent illegal fishing.
The result has been significant increase in fishery products. For instance, Octopus harvests have jumped from 670 kilos to 8 tonnes during the annual opening of the fishing season while other fish products also risen significantly.
“CI is working with communities to develop new locally-managed marine reserves to the south of the Bay to protect marine resources and biodiversity from growing threats,” said Mrs. Rajoelina.
