Stunning expedition to Lake Itasy

In the heart of Madagascar, in the middle of the ancient volcanic chain known as “Itasy,” lies a large lake called Lake Itasy. It regulates and supplies water to a vast area stretching all the way to the sea. Following more than 30 years of deforestation in this region, numerous phenomena of gully erosion and soil erosion are evident, accelerated by significant relief and friable soils. This causes a multitude of problems for water resources, such as the acceleration of rainwater runoff. The quality and quantity of water resources depend on the areas that feed them, their development, and their use. In order to improve water resource conditions, it is necessary to consider the sustainable development of an area.

It was on this point that COGELI (the Lake Itasy Management Committee) called on the NGO Bleu Versant to help develop its territory using a multidisciplinary approach. This initiative gave rise to the “Lake Itasy Expedition” project. This initiative involves a multi-stage tour around Lake Itasy, including interviews, meetings, awareness-raising and consultation, as well as skills transfer through training to ensure the continuity of the approach. This project combines COGELI’s in-depth knowledge of the terrain and local water issues with Bleu Versant’s expertise and experience in land/water resource relations in order to find solutions that are tailored and easily replicable in the region to improve water resource conditions.