Stéphanie M. Carrière

Forest Management Devolution: Gap Between Technicians’ Design and Villagers’ Practices in Madagascar

In the 1980s, tropical forest-management principles underwent a shift toward approaches giving greater responsibilities to rural people. One argument for such a shift were the long-term relations established between rural people and their natural resources. In Madagascar, a new law was drawn up in 1996 (Gelose law), which sought to integrate rural people into forest management. A gap was observed between the changes foreseen by the projects implementing the Gelose law and the actual changes. In this article, we use the concept of the social-ecological system (SES) to analyze that gap. The differences existing between the planned changes set by the Gelose contract in the village of Ambatoloaka (northwest of Madagascar) and the practices observed in 2010 were conceptualized as a gap between two SESs. The first SES is the targeted one (i.e., a virtual one); it corresponds to the designed Gelose contract. The second SES is the observed one. It is characterized by the heterogeneity of forest users and uses, which have several impacts on forest management, and by very dynamic social and ecological systems. The observed SES has been reshaped contingent on the constraints and opportunities offered by the Gelose contract as well as on other ecological and social components. The consequences and opportunities that such an SES reshaping would offer to improve the implementation of the Gelose law are discussed. The main reasons explaining the gap between the two SESs are as follows: (1) the clash between static and homogeneous perceptions in the targeted SES and the dynamics and heterogeneity that characterize the observed SES; and (2) the focus on one specific use of forest ecosystems (i.e., charcoal-making) in the targeted SES. Forest management in the observed SES depends on several uses of forest ecosystems.

Achieving sustainable conservation in Madagascar: The case of the newly established Ibity Mountain Protected Area

Globally, the number of protected areas (PAs) has increased exponentially during the last 25 years, particularly in biodiversity-rich developing countries. Many recent initiatives have integrated local-scale socio-economic development into both design and management. Because the rates of deforestation and species extinction are increasing in most parts of the world, substantial efforts have been made to build and strengthen local environmental organizations, to establish new protected areas (NPAs), and to improve natural resource management. An NPA was recently established at Ibity Massif in central Madagascar, where a community-based conservation project is being coordinated by the Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG). In December 2008, a temporary protection order was issued, and definitive establishment of the NPA, which falls under Category V of the IUCN PA system, is expected before the end of 2015. This initiative has involved significant outreach and community education programs to raise awareness of Ibitys conservation and economic importance and the threats to its biodiversity, along with ongoing efforts to reduce fire frequency and implement ecological restoration projects with significant local community participation. In order to ensure the sustainability of this NPA, a co-management plan has been implemented involving MBG, local authorities, and the local population. This study describes the diagnostic process undertaken at Ibity in order to: 1) disseminate the data gathered to inform establishment of the NPA; and 2) summarize the initial state of the environment on the massif prior to the implementation of a management plan, as a baseline for assessing the NPAs effectiveness.

Origins, Functions, and Persistence of Crop Biodiversity in the Betsileo Highlands, Madagascar

Origins, Functions, and Persistence of Crop Biodiversity in the Betsileo Highlands, MadagascarIn order to assess Malagasy crop biodiversity (CB) richness and stability on a regional scale, an analysis at both species and variety levels was carried out in the Betsileo area of the Madagascar Highlands. The study zone was a transect between the humid forest zone and the drier savanna. Peasant agriculture is faced with the challenges of a fast–growing resident population, government development and forest conservation-based policies. Sampling was done at two scales: five villages and 45 farms representative of three main farm types (small and poor, medium–sized, and richer farms). Farm surveys were conducted to collect data on several aspects of CB: taxonomic richness, functions, origin, date of introduction, rarity, and threats. Forty–five species were recorded altogether. The number of species in each village varies from 27 (a forest village) to 41 (a savanna village). Sixteen species are omnipresent in the area: they constitute the common base of Betsileo agriculture. On the farm scale, species diversity is high everywhere: each farm grows half the species present in its village, but only several varieties thereof. Yet the six main species include 57 varieties in all, of which 46% are ancient and 76% are hardy landraces. The bigger farms grow significantly fewer varieties than smaller, poorer farms. Successful varietal introductions have not reduced local varietal diversity. Regional and local varietal richness of a species is closely linked to the number of varieties per farm, depending on local importance, ecological suitability, and risk management, and is increased by seed exchanges. Betsileo agriculture appears to be simultaneously dynamic and faithful to its risk strategies, way of life, and values, allowing conservation of its technical, genetic, and cognitive capital. Current individual practices of conservation of rare varieties through small collections and seed exchanges should be supplemented by collective actions.Origines, fonctions, et persistance de la biodiversité culturale sur les Hautes-Terres Betsileo, MadagascarAfin d’évaluer la biodiversité culturale Malgache (CB) et sa stabilité à une échelle régionale, une analyse de la diversité spécifique et variétale a été réalisée en pays Betsileo, au Sud des Hautes Terres de Madagascar. La zone d’étude représente un transect entre la zone forestière humide et une zone de savane plus sèche. Les agriculteurs y sont soumis à la pression démographique, aux mesures de conservation et aux projets de développement. Cinq villages et 45 exploitations représentatives de trois types majeurs d’exploitation (petites pauvres, moyenne, riche) ont été échantillonnés et enquêtés. Des informations ont été collectées sur les différents aspects de la diversité des plantes cultivées: taxonomie, fonctions, origine, ancienneté, propriétés, importance quantitative et qualitative de l’espèce et de la variété. Au total, 45 espèces ont été enregistrées. Le nombre d’espèces par village varie de 27 (forêt) à 41 (savane). Seize espèces sont omniprésentes dans la zone, constituant la base de l’agriculture betsileo. Au niveau de l’exploitation, le nombre d’espèces maintenues est élevé: chaque exploitation cultive environ la moitié des espèces du village. Par contre le nombre de variétés par exploitation est modéré. Les six principales espèces cultivées contiennent pourtant au total 57 variétés dont 46% sont anciennes et 76% rustiques. La richesse variétale d’une espèce au niveau du village dépend d’abord du nombre de variétés maintenues par exploitation en relation avec l’importance locale de la culture, son adaptation écologique et la gestion du risque. Elle est accrue par les pratiques d’échanges de semences. Les grandes exploitations maintiennent moins de variétés que les petites. L’introduction de variétés de la recherche ne conduit pas à réduire l’utilisation des variétés locales rustiques et toujours appréciées. L’agriculture betsileo parait être à la fois dynamique et fidèle à son patrimoine, les choix et pratiques individuelles de conservation et d’échanges permettant à la fois l’évolution et la conservation des ressources génétiques et les valeurs culturelles. Les pratiques individuelles de conservation et d’échanges des variétés rares pourraient être complétées par des actions plus collectives.

A novel index to quantify agrobiodiversity in a biocultural perspective: the case of shifting cultivation gardens in Vanuatu (Pacific)

ABSTRACT Shifting cultivation is the most widespread agroforestry system in the tropics that may contribute to biodiversity conservation under certain conditions. Despite their common use, traditional biodiversity indexes prove ill-suited for assessing complex systems of this type. This study proposes a novel index, AGB, to assess agrobiodiversity in systems that mix species, varieties, lifeforms, and uses. The AGB index was tested using agrobiodiversity inventories in Vanuatu, where we compared agrobiodiversity levels and patterns of change over the course of a crop cycle between different field types. The 297 sampled fields contained a total of 127 species with an average of 10.1 species and of 11.6 varieties per field. During the cropping cycle, species and varietal richness diminish. The AGB index was compared with the Shannon and Pielou indexes and proved to be accurate for assessing and monitoring agrobiodiversity at the species and varietal levels. It may be a useful tool for agrobiodiversity monitoring in agricultural systems undergoing changes in practices and for achieving a better understanding of their biocultural resilience.