Threatened Timber Tree

Most native Malagasy trees are threatened by high rates of forest loss, but species valued for their timber are additionally threatened by aggressive and typically unsustainable selective exploitation. Consequently, even within remaining forests, these species are unnaturally rare and even locally absent. Such is the case in three protected areas where MBG supports community-based conservation: Analalava; Ankarabolava-Agnakatrika; and Makirovana-Tsihomanaomby. To ensure that these species are effectively conserved and flourish once again at these sites, we propose to implement three linked strategies :

1) forest policing to prevent commercial exploitation of timber and shifting cultivation ;
2) provision of alternative timber sources for the community in the degraded landscape surrounding the forest ;
3) restoration of degraded forest within the protected areas using a species mix including seedlings of threatened timber species.

We are fortunate to have received a grant from the Franklina Foundation to help us over three years to implement a program of activities included within the last of these strategies.