In the midst of the global pandemic, the important work for reforestation, biodiversity and sustainable agriculture in Madagascar by Association Mitsinjo and Association Manondroala1 (FANC Madagascar until1st June 2021) continues apace. Together the staff of our two organizations form a pool of scientific knowledge combined with local insight and long experience. We are now developing a training that will present the methods of reforestation used by Mitsinjo. The training is part of the Manondroala 2 project which was started in 2019 and continues our cooperation with the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation – FANC.
Whether university students or teachers, researchers, local restoration teams, NGOs, forest specialists or professionals working in administration, Malagasy or foreigners, we welcome you all to Andasibe. Even tourists and other interested groups of visitors can profit from the training.
The duration and the program of the training can be tailored according to the needs of the participants to last from one to several days. Teaching will take place in the Farahevitra tree nursery and at its expertise centre as well as in the surrounding Mitsinjo Park. During your visit, you will learn how we combine theory and practice. You will have an opportunity for example
– to hear about the use of biological pesticides and soil fungus extract. We inoculate the seedlings with the Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) which protects the young plants from diseases and harmful insects. Thanks to our methods, the mortality of seedlings is only 5 %. The VAM also helps trees grow more quickly and defends them against the drought.
Rice and beans grow together with mycorrhiza that has been collected from the forest. After three months, the VAM is ready for use.
– to see the great diversity of the endemic tree species we use in forest restoration. The trees are divided into three categories according to their height and speed of growth. When choosing species to be planted at a certain site, we have to take into account the conditions in which the species grow naturally. The seedlings must also represent all three categories.
– to make an excursion to the educational reforestation trail near the centre. Our team will guide you through restoration sites of different tree planting periods in Mitsinjo forest. There will be examples of stages of succession along the trail. You will also see the effects of different techniques on the results at each site.
Even more than 100 different species are being produced by Mitsinjo in its nurseries
One of your trainers will be Youssouf. He is paraecologist and one of Mitsinjo’s founding members. He has studied forestry, agroforestry and botany and has worked in many research projects e.g. for the Malagasy Ministry of Environment. He was in charge of starting the Mitsinjo tree nursery and is still managing it. Youssouf is also the manager of two nurseries in Torotorofotsy where Mitsinjo is running other projects. During the years, he has gained a huge amount of experience and has developed Mitsinjo’s methods to the excellent level the association is so famous for. Along with his expertise in ecology, awareness raising and environmental education have been part of Youssouf’s work in conservation. All of his competence combines in his work today as one of our certified guides and as the restoration specialist of the Manondroala 2 project. Youssouf will be pleased to share his know-how with you.
Youssouf examining a nursery managed by local inhabitants in Menalamba, Torotorofotsy
CONTACT
Youssouf
Conservation Manager
Association Mitsinjo
+261 34 17 632 44
daubetonia@gmail.com
Angela Tarimy
National Coordinator of the Manondroala 2 project
Association Manondroala
+ 261 34 01 972 97
angelatarimy@gmail.com
1Registered in 2016, Association Manondroala is a Malagasy non-governmental organization that focuses on developing a network of conservationists, on forest mapping, monitoring and restoration, nature conservation and community development. Association Manondroala works closely with FANC Finland, the Ministry of Environment of Madagascar and the University of Antananarivo. It is the representative of FANC’s projects in Madagascar.
Association Mitsinjo 