We visited Tolongoina and a local community called Mila Ezaka situated in the east of Madagascar in the Ambositra-Vondrozo forest corridor known as COFAV. The forest corridor is part of a large project by Conservation International aimed at protecting the remaining vegetation within these communities. Feedback Madagascar and Ny Tanintsika are partner NGO’s actively working to secure these areas. They are supported by the Darwin Foundation and Kew Gardens.

During our visit we were introduced to farmers that have been engaged by Ny Tanintsika to practice sustainable farming; growing crops such as cassava, beans, potato, sweet potato, carrots and potatoes. Vanilla is currently under trial with the hope of providing farmers with another income generating crop. Ny Tanintsika assists these farmers to diversify crops and practice crop rotation to ensure a sustainable soil nutrient balance. Unlike traditional farming methods, known as Tavy, that depletes soil nutrients within 2-3 years. Using traditional methods farmers are forced to abandon their fields and look for new fertile ground. This in turn has caused the large scale clearing seen in Madagascar over the past decades.

We also visited the local nursery in Mila Ezaka. This was established with the help of Feedback Madagascar and Ty Tanintsika. The nursery produces both native and exotic species for planting in remnant secondary forest and abandoned agricultural land known as Savoka. Nursery staff was trained by Ny Tanintsika field agents. Supplies such as seeds and the plastic seedling tubes are provided by the project. The seedlings are then planted by the local community. In return they are provided with training in Agroforestry and the seeds of agricultural crops.