Climate change is a global phenomenon which concerns also Madagascar. Many parts of the island suffer from drought, because there has not been enough rain. The water reserves have dwindled, which has contributed to the decrease of capacity in energy production all over the country. Dryness has also affected agriculture. To fight against climate change and to mitigate its impact, the government of Madagascar has initiated a national program for planting trees in the whole country. The program is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Ecology and Forests. The planting campaign 2017-2018 was officially launched in December 2017 in Ambohibary, in the district of Moramanga.
On 3 February 2018, the campaign organised an event in Andasibe in collaboration with Mitsinjo. The Ministry was represented by the director of Alaotra Mangoro region (DREEF – Diréction régionale de l’environnement, de l’écologie et des forêts) and by the Moramanga district office (CIREEF – Circonscription de l’environnement, de l’écologie et des forêts). The National association of forest engineers (AIM – Association d’ingénieurs forestiers nationale) and the Association of forest engineers of Alaotra Mangoro were represented by their presidents. The deputy secretary general of Madagascar National Parks was also attending and there was a representative from Ambatovy. From Mitsinjo, president Jean Noël NDRIAMIARY and three other staff members participated in the event. The other participants were forest engineers from the Moramanga district. Altogether, 40 people had gathered to Mitsinjo’s office. A journalist from Moramanga TV had come to follow the occasion and recorded it on video.
Mad RANDRIANASOLO, Restoration manager (2nd from the left) explains the various steps of planting
After welcome speeches, the guests were led to the forest. The planting area had been prepared close to Mitsinjo’s office in Ankahizinina along a restoration circuit. It is part of a site that was reforested in 2016 by the Manondroala project. 300 seedlings of 32 different species of native trees were there ready waiting. They had been brought from Mitsinjo’s tree nurseries. In the Alaotra Mangoro region, Mitsinjo is the only association to grow and plant native trees. The seedlings were its contribution to the event.
Mitsinjo’s President Jean Noël NDRIAMIARY teaching his youngest children
Before the work started, Mr Mad RANDRIANASOLO, Mitsinjo’s restoration manager planted one seedling to show how it should be done. After the demonstration, the participants spread around the site and it did not take long before all seedlings had been planted. In less than an hour the work was over, thanks to Mitsinjo’s tree planters. They had prepared the site beforehand. They had transported the seedlings, cleaned the area and dug the holes. All that the event participants had to do was to make place for the seedling, remove the plastic pot and put the seedling into the hole. The last step was to fill the empty space with soil tightly around the plant. Then it was time to move to the next seedling.
Forest engineers at work
When all trees had been planted, the group returned to Mitsinjo’s office. In the meeting hall, tables were set with snacks and drinks. It was time to relax and celebrate together before going home. The event was closed by RAKOTOSONINA Henri, president of the Association of forest engineers of Alaotra Mangoro who thanked all participants for their contribution.
Tables are set. Sitting on seats of honour Paul RAHONTSOA, vice president of AIM – Association d’ingénieurs forestiers nationale (on the left), RAKOTOSONINA Henri, president of the Association of forest engineers of Alaotra Mangoro and RAKOTONOELY, the eldest of forest engineers in the Alaotra Mangoro region
Mitsinjo has been doing reforestation for over 10 years. Cooperation with the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation in the Manondroala project in 2012-2017 has considerably increased knowledge of and experience in restoration and forest conservation among the Mitsinjo staff. The association has become a recognized professional in the field of forest restoration. The Ministry of Environment and the University of Antananarivo are important partners in this work.
Association Mitsinjo 