Association Mbarakaly

Association Mbarakaly was founded in 1999 from a diverse group of young people in the District of Anosibe An'ala in eastern Madagascar. The main purpose of the organisation is to educate and train communities with respect to environmental and health issues.

Since 2005 Association Mbarakaly has worked closely with Madagasikara Voakajy to engage communities in conservation initiatives to protect the fying foxes of Anosibe An'ala. This is a relatively remote region and although large tracts of native forest remain there are no protected areas and ongoing slash and burn activities pose a severe threat to the survival of many endemic species.

A survey of all roosts was undertaken in 2006 and two Pteropus rufus, two Eidolon dupreanum and four Rousettus madagascariensis roosts were discovered. Community leaders (village chiefs, mayors) from near the roosts were invited to a workshop and a variety of issues regarding flying fox and forest conservation were discussed.



All six villages that participated agreed to conserve the threatened roosts sites and produced a community law to protect the sites from hunting and deforestation. This was supported by an environmental awareness competition about flying foxes held in each village.


The team also participates in research and monitoring of flying foxes and threatened roosts.


The next steps are to support the villages with the implementation of the community contracts and encourage local people and others from outside of the area to protect these important forests. In 2008 Assocation Mbarakaly will continue a pilot project on the consumption of wild animals by people, continue to conserve roosting sites and follow-up reported observations of golden mantella frogs.

Contact:
Telephone 0320485100/0324123371
Bureau de liaison: Lot 985/1,2 67ha, Antananarivo (101)