Association Mitsinjo is a community based environmental NGO located in Andasibe. Mitsinjo manages and protects the Analamazaotra Forest Station, Torotorofotsy wetlands and forests connected with but not part of the Andasibe-Mantadia national parks. The organization runs ecological monitoring of endangered lemur species, with special focus on the Indri and Greater Bamboo Lemur. Mitsinjo also run several tree nurseries with an annual production capacity of more than 100,000 seedlings and comprised of approximately 120 endemic species. They are also part of an international amphibian research center created to protect the endemic frogs of Madagascar.
Find out more on their Facebook page
The restoration objectives set by Mitsinjo were developed to comply with guidelines set out in the Kyoto Protocol. The scheme encourages conservation, enhancement and restoration of natural forest corridors between larger forest fragments. The activities attempt to encourage maximum community involvement to develop sustainable livelihoods for the local population.
We had been in contact with Mitsinjo and they invited us to visit them in Andasibe. We arrived at the reception center in the morning but a large group of tourists beat us there. They had a tour planned that morning called “Plant a Tree and Save Forests! Mitsinjo Forest Restoration Tour”. The visitors receive a presentation explaining Mitsinjo’s mission, current activities, and past successes. After the presentation the tourists went on a quick walk to view the Indri Indri followed by each planting a native tree in restoration. Fortunately after these morning commitments the head nurseryman was available to show us around after an early lunch.
At lunch we met two inspiring Malagasy men called Jean-Noel (Mitsinjo President) and Youssouf (VP and head nurserymen). We discussed some of Mitsinjo’s recent projects and current challenges. They had a thorough understanding of native forest restoration and firm practices in place. We spoke about possibilities for bilateral information exchange between Ny Tanintsika and Mitsinjo. The organisations had similar projects running within the humid forests of eastern Madagascar, although separated by almost 500km.
In the afternoon Youssouf showed us around their very impressive nursery. We were hopeful to see some techniques that could be transferred or adapted to assist Ny Tanintsika with their projects. We discussed a production technique for the critical ingredient in soils for restoration: Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM).
We viewed current restoration areas of the forest. We were fortunate that this area showed the different stages of restoration. The group were restoring an area of forest that had become infested by Rubus alceifolius, a type of blackberry, and very difficult to control. Three years of slashing the blackberry was required before any native seedlings could be planted. Native species were planted with purpose and specific roles to play. Plants from all stages of succession were used in an effort to speed up the restoration process. Seedlings of species with medicinal and other benefits for the local people are planted on the boundary of the national park(s). This helped to keep the local community from entering a park to find these traditional plants and restricted the amount of disturbance within the parks.
The large areas infested by rubus and other exotic species, combined with savoka (abandoned agricultural land), makes the restoration of critical areas in Andasibe seem quite daunting. With limited financial support given to organisations like Mitsinjo, they are extremely successful and fulfill a very important role for restoration activities in Madagascar.
