A decisive step recognizing years of field-based action in support of biodiversity and local communities.

On 5 February 2026, Madagascar reached a new milestone in strengthening its protected area network with the official presentation of interministerial orders granting temporary protection to 21 terrestrial and marine protected areas. Among them is the Bobaomby Protected Area, located in the far north of the country and managed by the organization Madagasikara Voakajy (MV).

The official ceremony was held at the Carlton Anosy, Antananarivo, in the presence of the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, and several members of the Government, including the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development and the Minister of Fisheries and Blue Economy. This strong institutional engagement highlights the strategic importance placed on the conservation of natural resources.

The temporary protection status granted to Bobaomby represents the culmination of a long-standing process led by Madagasikara Voakajy, which has been active in the area since 2007, with intensified field interventions from 2014 onwards. The actions implemented were grounded in a participatory approach, closely involving local communities and relevant authorities.

These efforts included biological and socio-economic studies, strengthening local governance, active community participation in natural resource management, and the development of sustainable livelihoods aligned with biodiversity conservation objectives.

This recognition through an interministerial order marks a major step toward the long-term legal establishment of the Bobaomby Protected Area. It demonstrates how locally driven, long-term initiatives can make a concrete contribution to Madagascar’s national and international biodiversity commitments.