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Delivering technical assistance on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Madagascar

Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world, is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity and extensive marine ecosystems. With over 4800km of coastline, the island's natural assets include the world's largest coral reef systems, extensive mangrove forests, seagrasses, estuaries, marshes, and diverse shorelines.

However, the country has one of the highest poverty rates in the world, with approximately 75% of its population living below the international poverty line. Around 1.5 million Malagasy people depend on fishing and aquaculture to survive. These communities are among the most vulnerable and marginalised, often lacking alternative sources of income and being heavily dependent on natural resources.

Introduction

The Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) in Madagascar is delivered under the UK Government's Blue Planet Fund, which is designed to assist developing countries in managing their marine environments sustainably. This is being accomplished through mechanisms that also serve to enhance livelihoods and reduce poverty through technical assistance, capacity building, and policy support.

The OCPP team for Madagascar have identified several thematic priorities for work to support Madagascar in addressing challenges to their marine environment and biodiversity, enhancing marine dependent livelihoods and the wellbeing of those that depend on them, sustainably, equitably and inclusively.

Food security: Coastal communities in Madagascar face increasing threats and pressures from unsustainable use of their marine environment, climate impacts and environmental hazards impacting food security. Through OCPP we aim to improve food security and resilience in coastal communities through improved fisheries management and sustainable livelihoods.

Capacity: Limited capacity and sometimes capability to manage, monitor and regulate human activities in the marine environment is a key challenge in Madagascar. Through OCPP we aim to improve capacity and capabilities within government ministries and stakeholders, increasing access and awareness of tools and knowledge to support regulating, conserving and managing the marine environment.

Marine Biodiversity- The sustainable management practises and governance of existing MPAs and the contribution of Locally Managed Marine Areas to international commitments is a complex challenge. Through OCPP we aim to support the improvement of effective management and explore how that status of the LMMA network can support achievement of the 30x30 GBF commitment.

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JNCC’s Madagascar OCPP Work Areas

The focus of work in Madagascar as part of the OCPP at present is centered on the following:

  • Utilizing expertise and scientific evidence to tackle the challenges facing policy and governance of Madagascar’s existing marine protected areas (MPAs), Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs), mangrove restoration and sustainable livelihoods.
  • Training, capacity building and knowledge exchange to cover range of topics including Fisheries observance, compliance & enforcement, MPA designation, management and monitoring best practice.
  • Education and Awareness materials for coastal communities including topics such as benefits of marine conservation, MPAs, fisheries best practice & IUU fishing.
  • Support Madagascan involvement in the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA).

The below headings summarise some of the current and past work areas undertaken across the biodiversity and emergency response themes of the OCPP in partnership with the Government of Madagascar. Outputs from these work areas can be viewed in the Resources section.

Image of group listening to presentation

Workshop and Capacity Building

Madagascar has an established NGO community and existing donors.  During September 2023 the OCPP met with these stakeholders alongside representatives from the Madagascan government to discuss marine biodiversity, MPAs, blue carbon, aquaculture, and illegal, unregulated & unreported (IUU) fishing. The challenges associated with each theme were discussed in detail to scope for OCPP involvement and opportunities allowing identification of the key areas to help direct future workplans in Madagascar.

A clear focus was identified that the Government wanted to build capacity for the Madagascar National Parks (MNP) and Department of the Ministry of Environment as an emphasis on marine conservation was a key part of their environmental plans. The OCPP initiated a collaborative working approach with the MNP team to deliver a new strategy involving scientific evidencing and methodologies to support the development of new management plans for each MPA and the neighbouring community-led initiatives.

This led to an OCPP-led workshop which was delivered in March 2024, focusing on best practices for marine conservation and brought together multiple in-country partners. The workshop provided an in-depth analysis of the MPA framework, the implementation cycle and the importance of stakeholder engagement. It also provided an opportunity for breakout groups, involving key members of local and regional organisations, to discuss topics from MPA road mapping and management to threats and impacts. The resulting reports and workplans will guide the continued work of the OCPP in supporting the Madagascan Government, the national NGOs, and the communities in helping conserve marine biodiversity and the benefits it provides across the country.

For more information and resources associated with the workshop please look in the resource section below.

Image of group participating in workshop

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Resources

Published pieces of work associated with the listed activities undertaken through the OCPP-Madagascar Government partnership can be found in this section and will be added throughout the programme.

Reports:

The OCPP Biodiversity Team have collated information on MPA management effectiveness tools into this document to support the MPA community. Topics included in the document are: MPA assessments in relation to MPA implementation, different protected area management effectiveness (PAME) methods that can be used for individual MPAs and/or network-level assessments, benefits of PAME assessments, the PAME process and methods, a deep dive into the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT-4), and some case studies of METT-4 assessments carried out under the OCPP. To view this document please visit the Resource Hub.

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Ocean Country Partnership Programme

Published: .

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