Second Quarterly Report April - June 2018

Guy Randriatahina AEECL Programme Director

AEECL PARTNERS

AEECL MEMBERS

AEECL DONORS

Table of Contents

1. Lemur Red Listing Assessment Workshop ................................................................................... 1

2. School Meals ................................................................................................................................... 3

3. Meeting with high school students receiving scholarship from the AEECL ............................... 6

4. Participation in the regional celebration of World Environment Day (WED) ............................... 8

5. Participation in the local celebration of World Environment Day (WED) .................................. 10

6. Courtesy visit to new Park Director ............................................................................................. 11

7. Marat Karpeka Lemur Foundation Visit ....................................................................................... 11

8. Road grading ................................................................................................................................. 12

List of Photos

Photo 1 : Minister of Tourism……………………………………………………………………………………1

Photo 2 : IUCN Save Our Species (SOS) Lemur past grantees ........................................................... 1

Photo 3 : Group Work ............................................................................................................................ 2

Photo 4 : AEECL Director talking about the priority site ..................................................................... 2

Photo 5 : Meal preparation ..................................................................................................................... 3

Photo 6 : Meeting in Ampasimirehoka .................................................................................................. 3

Photo 7 : Games with an educational message ................................................................................... 4

Photo 8: Teaching the children about the work of the AEECL ............................................................ 4

Photo 9 : Preparation of food ................................................................................................................ 5

Photo 10 : Children with their school meal ........................................................................................... 5

Photo 11 : Distribution of toys ............................................................................................................... 6

Photo 12 : Meeting with students .......................................................................................................... 6

Photo 13 : Distribution of the scholarship ............................................................................................ 7

Photo 14 : Grantees ................................................................................................................................ 7

Photo 15 : Traditional dance .................................................................................................................. 8

Photo 16 : Certificate awarding ceremony............................................................................................ 9

Photo 17 : AEECL Stand ........................................................................................................................ 9

Photo 18 : Visitors to the stand ............................................................................................................. 9

Photo 19 : Carnival Photo 20 : Teachers from Maromandia ........................................................... 10

Photo 21 : Environmental quiz Photo 22 : Screening of environmental awareness movie ...... 10

Photo 23 : Subsidized teachers preparing foods Photo 24 : Friendship meal ........................... 10

Photo 25 : MKLF Meeting in Antafiabe ................................................................................................ 11

Acronyms

SOS: Save Our Species

DREEF: Direction Regional de l'Environnement, de l'Ecologie et des Forêts - Regional

Directorate of Environment, Ecology and Forests

MKLF: Marat Karpeka Lemur Foundation

MNP: Madagascar National Parks

WED: World Environment Day

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1. Lemur Red Listing Assessment Workshop

The Lemur Red Listing Assessment workshop took place from

7th to 11th May 2018 at the Carlton Hotel in Antananarivo. This

workshop was organized by the IUCN Species Survival

Commission and the Primate Specialist Group. Fifty two

delegates, comprising of Madagascan attendees and people

from conservation organizations and universities outside of

Madagascar, attended the workshop.

The workshop began with an opening ceremony by the Minister

of Tourism, Mr Roland Ratsiraka. In his speech, the Minister

highlighted that the tourism sector contributes to the majority of

the development of Madagascar. Tourists are visiting the

country mainly to explore the different parks of Madagascar that

are the natural habitats of the lemurs. Therefore, ecotourism and

lemur conservation complement each other. He noted that this

workshop is a good initiative because it contributes to the

development of the country and is also valuable for the health of

the endemic heritage of the country via the implementation of

lemur conservation strategy. He also mentioned that he has

about 300 employees within the Ministry of Tourism but

unfortunately none of them has visited the nearest protected Photo 1 : Minister of Tourism

area such as Andasibe park to see the lemurs. He encouraged the

staff of the Ministry of Tourism to visit the park because they are promoting tourism. He said that the

Ministry of Tourism had changed their slogan and from now it is ‘Treasure Island ‘.

Photo 2 : IUCN Save Our Species (SOS) Lemur past grantees

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During the workshop, participants were divided into different groups to assess the lemur status and to

identify the new site priorities that will be added to the action plan for the next 5 years. About 111 lemur

species were assessed and the majority of the lemur species (95%) are now threatened. The blue-eyed

black lemur (Eulemur flavifrons) is classed as critically endangered and Sahamalaza remains a priority

site.

Photo 3 : Group Work

Photo 4 : AEECL Director talking about the priority site

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2. School Meals

From 1st to 3rd June 2018, we organized

three school meals within three villages

around Sahamalaza Park including the

village of Ambalahonko, the village of

Ampasimirehoka and village of Antsatsaka.

The first school meal took place in the village

of Ambalahonko and then within the village

of Ampasimirehoka and the last meal on the

third day was in the village of Antsatsaka.

The women at each village helped during the

food preparation.

Photo 5 : Meal preparation

Photo 6 : Meeting in Ampasimirehoka

This time, the school meal menu included some vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, zucchini and green

beans. We noticed that children do not like vegetables too much! They prefer dry white beans instead of

vegetables.

The school meal in the village of Ampasimirehoka was a particularly good event. During the meal, the chief

of the village took an opportunity to make a meeting with the villagers. During this meeting they thanked

the AEECL for organizing the school meal in their village and explained the children had been really looking

forward to it. During the meeting, the chief of the village made some requests such as a new school

construction, the AEECL subsidy of one teacher and participation in the celebration of the school day. In

response to their requests, the Director of AEECL noted that the AEECL supports people living around the

park without exception and projects that the AEECL supported follow the annual work plan which is

approved by its board members. In addition, unfortunately the AEECL cannot run a project without having

relevant budget in place first.

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Environmental Education and Games

During the meal preparation, we organized some fun sessions that were both educational and entertaining

which highlighted the protection of the biodiversity of the Sahamalaza National Park and the mission of

the AEECL within the area.

Photo 7 : Games with an educational message

Photo 8: Teaching the children about the work of the AEECL

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Photo 9 : Preparation of food

Photo 10 : Children with their school meal

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The Malagasy National Day is a big celebration, with a party, dressing up, carnival and fireworks. Many of

the villages cannot afford to buy items for this celebration and so we distributed trumpet whistles to the

kids and other toys so they could join in with the fun.

Before the school holidays, we plan to organize another school meal event and also to organize

a football match between the children of Antsatsaka village and those of the village of Ampasimirehoka.

Photo 11 : Distribution of toys

In total, 200 children were fed during these school meals organized across the three villages.

3. Meeting with high school students receiving scholarship from the AEECL

We held a meeting with high school students in Maromandia on 4th June 2018 regarding the AEECL School

Scholarship programme. The scholarship helps students to cover the cost of their studies that ordinarily

they would not be able to afford.

Photo 12 : Meeting with students

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The purpose of the meeting was to remind the beneficiaries of the importance of the support that AEECL

provides to them. There are 15 students that benefit from this scholarship and all were present. The

headmaster was also present. During this meeting, students reported that they participated in the

reforestation and cleaning the hospital yard in Maromandia. The director of the AEECL insisted that they

should undertake activities that are related to the protection of the environment. He encouraged students

to work hard to pass the exams.

At the end of the meeting, we distributed the scholarships to the high school students.

Photo 13 : Distribution of the scholarship

Photo 14 : Grantees

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4. Participation in the regional celebration of World Environment Day

The celebration of World Environmental Day (WED) for the Sofia region took place in the District of Port-

Bergé, 120km south of Antsohihy from 6th to 8th July 2018. The theme for this year was ‘Beat Plastic

Pollution, if you can't reuse it, refuse it.’ In Madagascar, the use of plastic packaging persists even if it is

forbidden. For 2018, the goal of the WED celebration is to raise awareness throughout the local

populations about the use of plastics.

The authorities that were present were composed of the Regional Prefect of Sofia, the Deputy District of

Port-Bergé, the Regional Director of the Environment, Ecology and Forests, the Regional Director of

Tourism, the Director of Madagascar National Parks and the Deputy Mayor of Port-Bergé.

The activities during WED included staff visits from the New Protected Area (NPA) Bongolava managed

by the association Bongolava Maitso, some entertainment, speeches and demonstrations of the traditional

dances, stands and conferences. There was a presentation of certificates and prizes for people that work

in conservation and development.

Photo 15 : Traditional dance

Because of the political situation, the Head of District and the Mayor of Port-Bergé were not present during

the celebration.

This political disruption affected the celebration as there were fewer people attending the event.

Like other NGOs in the Sofia region, AEECL financially supported this event and offered one zebu for the

event.

All environmental NGOs working in the Sofia region were present and exhibited stands presenting their

respective activities.

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Photo 16 : Certificate awarding ceremony

Photo 17 : AEECL Stand

Photo 18 : Visitors to the stand

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5. Participation in the local celebration of World Environment Day (WED)

After the regional celebration, we also participated in the local celebration held in Sahamalaza in Marovato

Sud on the 19th and 20th June 2018. The activities included a quiz, movie screening, carnival and speeches.

It is worth noting that the celebration took place in a small village so it was animated compared to the

regional celebration in Port-Bergé. The Madagascar National Parks (MNP), AEECL and Mikajy Natiora

organized this event in Marovato Sud. The Mayor and his colleagues, the Head of Villages, teachers and

the grantee students from Maromandia were also present during the celebration. The teachers helped with

the preparation of the meal for the guests.

Photo 19 : Carnival Photo 20 : Teachers from Maromandia

Photo 21 : Environmental quiz Photo 22 : screening of environmental awareness movie

Photo 23 : Subsidized teachers preparing foods Photo 24 : Friendship meal

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6. Courtesy visit to new Park Director

Recently, the Sahamalaza National Park appointed a new Park Director. His name is Mahefa Christian

Olivier and is based in Maromandia. Previously, he was a director of the Masoala National Park.

We met him at his office on 4th June 2018, he said that he was happy to work with the AEECL and will

continue the effort already started by his predecessors on conservation and development in Sahamalaza.

Another courtesy visit was made on 6th June 2018 to the Regional Directorate of Environment, Ecology

and Forests (DREEF) office in Antsohihy. His name is Ralaivonirina Joelson. He congratulated the

actions that the AEECL has undertaken in the National Park.

The purpose of these visits is first to present the activities of the AEECL as a lead player in environmental

protection within the Sofia region and also to congratulate them for their new positions.

Both new Directors were aware of AEECL's activities and expressed interest in ensuring the collaboration

will continue in the right direction.

7. Marat Karpeka Lemur Foundation Visit

In order to understand the activities that the Marat Karpeka Lemur Foundation (MKLF) would undertake

within the Sahamalaza National Park, two female delegates of the foundation visited Sahamalaza from

11th to 15th May 2018. They travelled to the village of Antafiabe and then visited the school, having a

meeting with the villagers and children. During the meeting, they said that they were happy to meet the

villagers and will build a school this year.

Photo 25 : MKLF Meeting in Antafiabe

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8. Road grading

After the rain, the track to Ankarafa has deteriorated and is practically inaccessible for vehicles. The

AEECL thought of building this track which measures approximately 50km from the national road.

Holy met the Regional Prefect on 3rd April 2018 in order to get more information about the use of equipment

that the Region possesses. The Regional Prefect said that it is possible to use the backhoe loader for the

District of Analalava.

She then contacted the Head of District of Analalava for additional information. According to the Head of

District, it is possible to use the backhoe loader but he has to look at the track that needs fixing and that

the Mayor of Ambolobozo should also agree. The beneficiary should find a driver and should pay for the

fuel needed during the work period.

The Head of District of Analalava, the Borough Delegate of Ambolobozo, the Mayor of Ambolobozo and

Holy (AEECL representative) met on 27th April 2018 in Antsohihy. They discussed the road grading and at

the end of this meeting the Mayor agreed about the road grading and they decided to do a recce visit on

28th April 2018 to evaluate the state of the track. Unfortunately the authorities were not available on the

proposed date. Therefore, Holy, accompanied by Aimé, the house guard from Antsohihy, decided to

inspect the track on 29th April 2018. They walked about 13km. According to their findings, there were some

huge cracks, holes and landslides. The hill in Analavory was the worst because there were holes of 2m

deep and cracks about 500m long. Therefore, this damage requires the use of machines to repair it.

Holy reported this information to the Head of District and the Mayor of Ambolobozo. Later, two visits were

organized. The first was on 24th May 2018. The following people were present: the Chief of the village

Ambinda, a teacher, villagers and a representative of AEECL from Ankarafa (Jacquis). In total, there were

5 people. They left the village of Ambinda and walked till Analavory. This portion of road appears easier

to repair.

Another site visit was carried out on 29th May 2018. The following people were present: a representative

of the municipality and a representative of the AEECL (Jacquis). They were 13 people that were from 3

villages (Ambinda, Antafiabe and Andaveno) along the track. After this inspection, they said that the road

should deviate in two places because these portions seemed to be difficult to repair.

We have taken all the necessary steps to allow the use of the machine and we have also found a driver.

At the time of writing we are still awaiting notification from the Head of District to allow us to use the

backhoe loader.

Many thanks for your continued support of the AEECL.