The Farankaraina Forest is a warm, humid, tropical rainforest situated on Antongil Bay in NE Madagascar. The Antongil Bay area is recognized for its biodiversity and as one of the world’s highest concentrations of endemic species. It is estimated that the Antongil Bay area contains 50% of Madagascar’s biodiversity while covering only 2% of its land mass. This is significant given that 90% of Madagascar’s wildlife is endemic. There are many species that only exist in the Antongil Bay area or a portion of the area.

The main threats to the reserve are:

• Clearing of forest to start agricultural fields, mostly to grow rice, maize, bananas, vanilla, and cloves.
• Removal of firewood for home cooking.
• Extraction of precious trees, usually for illegal export overseas.
• Removal of medicinal plants.

These activities often cause significant secondary damage such as soil erosion, clearings, and paths that disturb the forest.

 

Our rangers patrol the forest every day of the year. They play a vital role in protecting the flora and fauna in the reserve by establishing a presence and looking and listening for people who should not be in the forest.

The rangers vary their patrol routes and times to ensure they are unpredictable. During patrol, they take notes and photos and report the location of any newly damaged areas to the VOI and local minister of the environment. The VOI will investigate and determine the next steps.

If the rangers encounter suspicious people or catch someone damaging the forest, they will take photos first then confront them without violence. Education about the value of the forest is always the first option.

At least once per month, members of the local VOI (village associations) join the rangers on patrol. This is an important element in involving the local people in preserving the reserve.