Year: 2021

Antananarivo, 6 December 2021- The Ministry of Economy and Finance of Madagascar (MEF) and the German development bank KfW have signed two contracts for financial assistance worth a total of 45,7 million euros for the protection of Madagascar’s biodiversity. This endowment will be used to contribute to the capital of the Madagascar Foundation for Protected Areas and Biodiversity (FAPBM). The income generated by this capital will provide protected areas and local communities with means to sustainably strengthen the fight against the growing pressures on the country’s biodiversity and natural resources. The priority area of German development cooperation in Madagascar is environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in the energy and agriculture sectors. Through KfW, the German government has been committed to the sustainable financing of the Madagascar Protected Areas System (SAPM) for more than 30 years, either through direct financing of Madagascar National Parks (MNP) or …

FAPBM has signed a financing agreement in favour of Madagascar National Parks (MNP) for an amount of MGA 2,714,238,754. With its annual budget reduced by 35% due to the tourism paralysis, MNP faces a significant funding gap that threatens the conservation of Madagascar’s natural heritage. The amount allocated by the Foundation will benefit 17 protected areas (for a total size of 1,422,488 ha), including those of Bemaraha, Andringitra, Ranomafana and Masoala, which have been classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In addition to their value for tourism, these national parks have an economic importance for the communities. For example, the forests of Ranomafana National Park supply the water tank of the Namorona hydroelectric station, which is located near the park. Masoala Park protects the river systems and water sources feeding the basins of the region and part of the Andapa basin. The Andringitra National Park is home to numerous water sources that irrigate …

On June, 4th, 2021, FAPBM warmly welcomes a new Executive Board and two new members inside its Board of Trustees [1]. The newly elected members of the Executive Board are: Ny Anitry Ny Aina (Nanie) RATSIFANDRIHAMANANA, as President of the Board Ratafika DIMBINDRAIBE, as Vice-President of the Board Fredy RAJAONERA ANDRIAMBELO, as Treasurer.   The incoming members of the Board of Trustees, co-opted for a renewable 4-year term, are: Bruno Tsing Yat RAJASPERA[2], Director of Community Resource Support of Conservation International – Madagascar; Fredy RAJAONERA ANDRIAMBELO[2], Deputy Director-General of Chocolaterie Robert. In accordance with the governance rules of FAPBM, this series of co-optations took place following the end-of-term of two trustees, namely Sahondra RAJOELINA, former President, and Naritiana RAKOTONIAINA. After 2 years at the Presidency of the Board of Trustees, the outgoing President, and Country Director of Conservation International – Madagascar, recalled, with emotion during the handover ceremony, the values …

The Foundation for Biodiversity and Protected Areas of Madagascar (FAPBM) is committing to a grant of USD 2,735,722 for the Madagascar Protected Areas System (MPAS) for 2021. This grant will be used to: Cover recurrent operating costs, local development and conservation activities of 36 protected areas (through among others annual grants), Respond to emergencies that threaten biodiversity and conservation in protected areas (through the Special Intervention Funds), Strengthen the capacity of new protected areas (through the Support Fund for Strengthening in New Protected Areas), Finance an offset program in one (1) protected area, Finance the extension of marine protected areas within the MPA GEF 6 project (Global Environment Facility – Marine Protected Areas). The MPAS is severely suffering from the health restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, which is likely to last in 2021. Indeed, tourism is one of the major sources of revenue for protected areas. The financial …

Conservation International, as a Global Environment Facility Partner Agency, signed a Financing Agreement for an endowment fund of USD 4,5 million in favour of the capital of the FAPBM. The annual revenues from this capital will provide sustainable financing to 5 protected areas in the Boeny region. The 5 protected areas that will receive funding are: Ankarafantsika National Park (managed by Madagascar National Parks, MNP), the Bay of Baly National Park (managed by MNP), the Mahavavy Kinkony Complex (managed by Asity), the Antrema Biocultural Site (managed by the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, MNHN), and the Bombetoka Beloboka Site (managed by Development and Environmental Law Center, DELC). Spanning over 580,000 hectares, these 5 protected areas of Boeny, given the diversity of their natural habitats (dry forests, lakes, mangrove swamps, Bismarkia savannah and marshes), are home to an outstanding biodiversity and offer ecosystemic services to the Region’s population. The rivers, for example, …