Category: News

As the 2017-2021 FAPBM Five-Year Strategic Plan has come to an end, an external entity was commissioned to conduct an evaluation and support the development of a new plan for 2022-2026. The evaluation found that the overall objective of contributing to the ecological integrity of the funded protected areas was achieved. This overall objective was based on two pillars: a)  increase the contribution of FAPBM to the management costs of protected areas and b) improve the management indicators of the protected areas funded. The efforts made are significant , but so are the challenges. Continuous loss of biodiversity, poor human development, and climate change, these age-old challenges have been exacerbated by the vulnerability inherent to the pandemic. To address these issues, the new 2022-2026 Strategic Plan of FAPBM, presented virtually on December 7, is built on 3 pillars: Enhancing sustainable funding to the Madagscar ‘s Systeme of Protected Area (SAPM) …

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, …

In 2005, the meeting of contributors to the capital of FAPBM was held for the first time. The three entities under whose impetus FAPBM was founded were the first to participate: WWF, Conservation International and the Malagasy government. In 2019, this annual meeting was held in Isalo under the direction of Mrs Sahondra RAJOELINA, President of the Board of Trustees, with the participation of the whole board of trustees and the other contributors who joined the first three:: KFW, the German development bank AFD, the french Development Agency (AFD) More than a meeting, this event is for the FAPBM a time for constructive exchanges with its capital contributors to better advance its mission of “contributing to sustainable human development through the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity through the mobilization of sustainable funding sources for the Protected Areas System in Madagascar”. It was also an opportunity for contributors to the capital …

Forests are the origin of the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat or even the drugs we use to look after ourselves. By providing us with those essential elements for our existence, forests play a central role that is unfortunately often neglected. This is the reason why, this year 2017, the Foundation for the Protected Areas and the Biodiversity of Madagascar joined the celebration of the International Day of Forests held in Tulear. An awareness campaign on the essential role played by forests took place during these two days. There was also a half day of mangrove reforestation. Protecting forests means preserving our life. That is the reason why FAPBM acts to perpetuate the conservation by financing the protection of around 3 million hectares of protected areas spread over 31 sites. …

Acting for the conservation of biodiversity and supporting the local economy: FAPBM has decided to embark on this path through impact investing. A quarter of the capital of the Foundation, a little more than 12 million Euros, is therefore dedicated to this type of investment that tends to have a positive social and / or environmental impact while generating a financial return. In Madagascar, through the ADENIA IV fund, FAPBM supports job creation on the Big Island and therefore the national economy by investing in various companies established on the island. The portfolio for impact investing is also placed in countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America : The REAFII fund in the field of renewable energy in Africa The CASEIF III fund focused on SMEs from different sectors (small industries, agro-food industry, renewable energy, education) in Central America for job creation and the protection of the environment Beyond the …

The Foundation is delighted to welcome its new Executive Director in the person of Mr. Alain Liva RAHARIJAONA. With a meaningful experience in both the private and public sectors, he has chosen to put his skills at the service of the sustainability of the financing of protected areas and biodiversity in Madagascar. With an economic background, he worked for 12 years as Economic Counsellor at the Embassy of Madagascar in Brussels before joining the FAPBM. …

On 13 December 2019, the signature ceremony for the 2020 financing agreements between the FAPBM and 11 protected area managers (Madagascar National Parks, WCS Madagascar, SAGE Fampandrosoana Maharitra Missouri Botanical Garden Madagascar – Analalava, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Conservation , Fanamby, The Peregrine Fund, Asity Madagascar, GERP Madagascar, Biodiversity Conservation Madagascar) was held at the Hotel Colbert Antaninarenina. The financial subsidies allocated by the FAPBM for the year 2020 are 7,780,411,731 MGA for 35 protected areas spread throughout Madagascar All categories of protected areas of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (I, II, III, III, IV, V and VI) are represented in the panel financially supported by the Foundation. The FAPBM annually allocates funding for the conservation of protected areas to enable biodiversity to fully play its role as a development lever for Madagascar. The stakes of preserving them go beyond the environmental framework. Madagascar’s 7 million hectares of …

The Board of Trustees of the FAPBM has had three new members since 21 May 2019: Mr. Uwe Klug, Senior Sectoral Expert on Biodiversity at KfW, German Development Bank Mr. Ratafika DIMBINDRAIBE, Director of Cabinet of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development Mrs Hanta Zo RAKOTOVAO, Head of the Legal and Regulatory Department of Orange Madagascar and Orange Money Madagascar May 21 was also the occasion for the FAPBM to congratulate the new President of its Board of Directors, Mrs Sahondra RAJOELINA, Country Director of Conservation International Madagascar. Mrs Sahondra RAJOELINA has been a director of the Foundation since 2013, taking over from her predecessor, Mr Barijaona RAMAHOLIMIHASO. Since that date, Mrs. Nanie RATSIFANDRIHAMANANANA, Country Director of WWF Madagascar, has been Vice-Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The current composition of the FAPBM Board of Directors is available on this page …

Every year, May 22nd is celebrated as International Day for Biological Diversity. For 2017, the theme chosen is “biodiversity and sustainable tourism”. As an institution promoting and acting for the protection of the unique biodiversity of the Big Island, the Foundation for Protected Areas and Biodiversity of Madagascar (FAPBM) naturally joins in this celebration. The foundation thus works hand in hand with the Ministry of Environment, Ecology and Forests for the organization of the different events promoting the biodiversity of Madagascar. Biodiversity: an endangered bedrock of life However, due to the multiple pressures put on it, this biodiversity is threatened with extinction. This fact is bringing out the urgency to act for its protection. FAPBM has decided to celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity by raising awareness: “Some of us mistakenly think that we should focus on humans instead of protecting plants and animals. But what these people do …