Integrated management of coastal and wetland ecosystems in the Vatovavy region

Born in the wake of Cyclone Batsirai in 2022, the initiative led by Cœur de Forêt aims to strengthen the resilience of the coastal territory of Mananjary (Vatovavy region, Madagascar) by reconnecting populations with wetland ecosystems.

The Mananjary River and the Pangalanes Canal structure ecological balances and livelihoods, which are now threatened by deforestation, degradation of mangroves, and unsustainable agricultural practices. In ten years, more than 1,900 hectares of forests have disappeared, weakening riverbanks, biodiversity, and water quality.

The project adopts an integrated approach at the scale of coastal wetlands, combining ecological restoration, agroecological transition and structuring local governance. It rehabilitates mangroves and riparian forests, which are essential for water regulation and protection against climatic hazards. At the same time, the project is supporting communities in sustainable agricultural practices, reducing pressures on ecosystems while increasing food security, and developing local capacities to anticipate cyclone risks.

By 2028, the project will contribute to restoring more than 60 hectares of ecosystems, planting more than 115,000 trees/mangroves and raising awareness among thousands of beneficiaries. By repositioning populations at the heart of resource management, the initiative embodies a sustainable approach: living within these wetlands, which are true levers of ecological and socio-economic resilience, replicable in other river territories.