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Document Author(s): Holmes, Christopher , Ingram, Jane Carter , Meyers, David , Crowley, Helen , Victurine, Ray

Case study of the forest carbon and biodiversity project in Makira Forest, Madagascar. Sponsored by USAID, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Government of Madagascar and other partners have been working with local communities living in the Makira plateau in north-eastern Madagascar to establish a protected area which will be financed by the marketing and sale of CO2 emissions reductions credits. The funds from carbon sales, generated through the avoided deforestation of the Makira forest, will be used to finance the longterm conservation of the forests, improve community land stewardship and governance, and support sustainable livelihood practicesleading to improved household welfare. This study outlines the intensive community participation and capacity building process and key steps that have been taken to develop this novel and innovative community-based approach towards forest conservation and poverty reduction in one of the world’s most biologically rich and economically poor countries. Though some carbon was sold in the voluntary market as early as 2008, and a REDD+ project development document was submitted in 2012, the momentum of this project has been interrupted by the coup in Madagascar in January 2009.

Reviewer: Michael Colby

Reviewer Affiliation: USAID/E3/LTRM

Review Date: 2013-03-06

Journal: none

Publisher: Wildlife Conservation Society

Document type(s):

• Project overview document/gray literature
• Tool/methodology (e.g. legal analysis, value chain analysis, participatory methods, rapid assessment)
• Site-based case study

Star rating: ★★★★

Regions:

• Africa

Country: Madagascar

State: northeast

Donor: USAID

Project name: Makira Forest Carbon and Biodiversity PES/REDD project

Natural resource(s):

• Biodiversity
• Forest

Ecosystem service(s):

• Biodiversity
• Forest Carbon

NWP Principles - Nature

• Fostered innovation, social learning, and adaptive management - [Relevant]
• Improved information and knowledge management systems - [Relevant]
• Built capacity and invested in human resources - [Relevant]
• Promoted local land use planning and appropriate resource tenure systems - [Relevant]
• Promoted cost effective technical advisory and intermediary services - [Relevant]

NWP Principles - Wealth

• Created a framework for better NRM choices - [Relevant]
• Promoted or developed economic strategies for natural resource management - [Relevant]
• Assured that resource managers have access to NRM means and benefits - [Relevant]
• Invested in local organizations - [Relevant]
• Strengthened markets and NRM market incentives - [Relevant]

NWP Principles - Power

• Continuous and inclusive consultations - [Relevant]n
• Procedural rights for all people, especially vulnerable or marginalized groups - [Relevant]
• Natural resource authority and functions distribution - [Relevant]
• Local stakeholder input into public decisions and policy - [Relevant]

Tools used

• Devolution to communities
• Participatory processes for social change
• Land use planning
• GIS/remote sensing
• Payments for ecosystem services
• Devolution to local governments
• Participatory Planning
• Tree tenure rights
• Information/knowledge management technology
• Land tenure securitization

Constraints

• Governance/empowerment - [Communal]
• Economic/income generation - [Yes]

Solutions

• Governance/empowerment - [Communal]
• Economic/income generation - [Communal]

Additional Discussion Topics

• Lessons learned (Cautionary Tale)
• Lessons learned (Success Story)
• Governance - [External or structural policies that influenced success or failure]
• Economic - [External or structural policies that influenced success or failure]
• Resources - [External or structural policies that influenced success or failure]