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).

See our VAM post here!

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.

Just opposite of the entrance to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is a local initiative by Association Mitsinjo who manages the Analamazaotra Forest Station. The forest is in excellent condition and the group is working to remove all of the exotic eucalypt and pine from the area. You will see some reforestation plots if you decide to take a walk with Mitsinjo in their reserve.  They also have an orchid garden and offer walks through the treetops.

We had been in contact with community group Mitsinjo Association via email and they invited us to see their work. The head nurseryman Youssouf was not available in the morning due to a large tour group so we took a walk through the forest with one of the Mitsinjo guides.  He has been taking tours for over 8 years in the Andasibe and the surrounding forests.  Within the first 15min of the walk we met our first curious looking but very handsome giraffe weevil.  The male has an elongated neck to fight away other courting males while the female uses her shorter neck to roll up the leaf tightly in which she lays her eggs.  Its an amazing and very funny looking adaptation.  We even managed to spot some have sex.

Only 10min further down the track the guide called to come quickly. We scuttled through the forest to meet our first Indri Indri!  The guide had spotted a female with her young and another male further out watching out for them. Throughout the day we saw a few groups of Indri, which was made possible as Mitsinjo’s guides know the Indri’s habits well. There have been several lemur translocations into the forests around Andasibe. The study and tracking of Indri Indri by Mitsinjo provides vital information for the protection and conservation of such species.

There was a large group of Japanese tourists visiting at the same time. Jean-Noel (president) and Youssouf (vice president) gave presentations in the morning on the progress of restoration activities and conservation projects.  The large group are part of a tour called “Plant a Tree and Save Forests! Mitsinjo Forest Restoration Tour” They would have presentations in the morning followed by a guided walk. The group would then plant seedlings that they had funded in a parcel of reforestation.

Mitsinjo are the only guides that offer nightwalks in the forest (and not the usual walk along the road). Tours to the Mitsinjo forest are also cheaper than the national park.  Your money will be used for community projects related to health and agriculture for local people living around the forests managed by the association.  An organisation that is very worthwhile supporting!

Miarinarivo is a small commune situated approximately 45km south of Ambalavao in the central highlands of Madagascar.  It is relatively remote and travel via taxi brousse from Ambalavao is only possible on a few days of the week and takes several hours.  Ny Tanintsika works with three community forest management associations (COBA’s) within the commune.  These associations have been created to locally manage the protection and enhancement of remaining forest within the region. It empowers local people with the knowledge and skills to manage their (limited) forest resources. The management plans were created under guidance from Ny Tanintsika and the Malagasy government. The plans define areas of strict conservation (fitting with the region plan to provide corridors) and mixed forest use to meet the daily needs of the community (sustainable resource use).  The plan also allocates plantation areas to supply fuel wood for cooking and agricultural lands for food production and agroforestry.

I spent five days in Miarinarivo with the field technicians from Ny Tanintsika. We visited the nurseries and reforestation sites of two villages (COBA’s), community agroforestry technicians (TAC’s) and several households along the way. My first objective was to demonstrate the use of GPS to record areas reforested. Secondly, I was to teach techniques for monitoring survival of seedlings produced at the community nurseries. We also set up a trial for producing mycorrhiza (VAM) at the nurseries.  Mycorrhiza are vital to the growth, health and successful establishment of seedlings.

We were invited for lunch on several occasions but due to the busy schedule had to decline on most days. On the last day we joined one of the COBA’s for a traditional rice feast. Ny Tanintsika had donated a plough to the COBA and they were eager to display its use and give thanks. It was the beginning of the rice harvest and Malagasy traditional is to share your wealth when you have it. I had to make my way into the house via a precariously unstable wooden plank raised 2.5m above the ground. This was disconcerting after having broken my femur just over a year ago.  We feasted on eggplant, chickpea, and (needless to say) rice. It was a lovely experience to have been welcomed into their house.

There had recently been a cyclone and trekking through rice paddies was very challenging.  The windrows of rice paddies had become very slippery and most of us ended up with both feet stuck deep in mud.  I had a great time working with the Ny Tanintsika staff and community members.