Madagascar: National Environmental Action Plan

1 madagascar : National Environmental Action Plan 75. madagascar : National Environmental Action Plan Authors: Guy Razafindralambo, Coordinator, Environment Program 3 (EP3). Lisa Gaylord, Co-President EP3 Joint Steering Committee ( Environmental /Rural Development Team Leader, USAID/ madagascar ). Executive Summary M adagascar faces major biodiversity conservation challenges, owing to a combination of high diversity, en- demism, and a high degree of natural risk threat. The impact of the December 2004 tsunami, earthquake, and tidal waves heightened public awareness of the need for more stringent coastal management systems. The third phase of the National Environment Action Plan (NEAP) stresses seven results to be attained: (i) sustainable development activities need to be developed; (ii) forest ecosystems and water resources need to be sustainably man- aged; (iii) sensitive ecosystems need to be conserved and made valuable as protected areas and conservation sites; (iv).

2 Coastal and marine ecosystems need to be sustainably managed; (v) a positive change in behavior vis- -vis the envi- ronment needs to be achieved; (vi) the financial basis for sustainable financing of the management of natural re- sources and the environment needs to be established; and (vii) better Environmental policies and governance need to be developed. Evidence is emerging from the M& E system that confirms the positive impact of the program on the ground, al- though the absence of objectively verifiable benchmarks makes it hard to discount inflated expectations that were fu- eled by overly ambitious targets. Thus, a key lesson learned is that results targets need to be realistic if the credibility of the program is not to be undermined.

3 Under the first phase, the implementation of the National Environment Action Plan took the form of a number of separate donor-driven projects without obvious linkages between each other and with minimal donor coordination. In contrast, the third phase seeks to enhance coordination with other programs, in particular with the large multilateral rural development operations, but also with similar programs or projects in areas such as roads, rural infrastructure, energy, mining, and tourism. Protecting the World's Highest Priority in The combination of low agricultural productivity and Biodiversity Conservation rapid population growth is accelerating conversion of the remaining primary forests now covering just 15.

4 madagascar is among 17 recognized mega- percent of National territory to slash-and-burn pro- biodiversity countries, which taken together represent duction. Watersheds and soil stability have been fur- about 80 percent of the world's total biological diver- ther undermined, compounding the economic losses sity. Due to madagascar 's extraordinary diversity, its through even greater loss of soil, siltation, and water unique species, and the level of threat, a hectare of shortage. The costly necessity of building, replacing, forest lost in madagascar has greater negative impact and repairing damaged infrastructure contributes to on global biodiversity than a hectare lost virtually the vicious cycle.

5 GDP (measured in 1995 dollars) has anywhere else on earth. Indeed, madagascar has often fallen from about US$383 in 1960 to about US$246. been cited as the world's single highest priority in today. biodiversity conservation. madagascar 's forests are threatened by population Objectives Pursued pressure, poverty, and nonproductive agriculture. In 1989 six years prior to signing the Convention on Weak Environmental governance undermines the natu- Biological Diversity the government of madagascar ral resource base by encouraging deforestation, unsus- elaborated Africa's first National Environmental Ac- tainable management, and environmentally destruc- tion Plan (NEAP).

6 It has been the most ambitious and tive agriculture. Commercial timber exploitation is comprehensive Environmental program in Africa to poorly regulated. Central policies and weak institu- date. A long-term investment program was planned in tions exacerbate deforestation; and stakeholders, par- three phases over 15 years. The government's steady ticularly those at the local and regional level, are not commitment to Environmental protection was also effectively engaged in trying to stop it. Not surpris- reflected in its recognition and ratification of major ingly, more than 80 percent of madagascar 's original regional and international conventions, as well as its forest cover is now gone.

7 MfDR Principles in Action : Sourcebook on Emerging good practices 76 Part 3. Examples of MfDR in Sector Programs and Projects continuous work with international donors to address greater emphasis on the link between rural poverty the enormity of the Environmental challenge. The En- and Environmental degradation. vironmental Charter of 1990 reiterates the govern- Building on lessons from the first phase, the second ment's concern over Environmental issues and sets phase aimed at expanding conservation and develop- forth its commitment to the National Environmental ment beyond National parks and reserves, adopting a Action Plan. regionalized landscape approach.

8 The goal of the third Launched operationally in 1991, the National Envi- phase, starting in 2003, was to ensure that the impor- ronmental Action Plan has these objectives: tance and the quality of natural resources are con- To manage the National heritage of biodiversity in served and developed in support of sustainable eco- protected areas, in conjunction with sustainable nomic growth and a better quality of life.. development of surrounding areas An Ecoregional Approach to Conservation To improve human living conditions through pro- tection and better management of natural re- madagascar adapted a broad regionalized landscape sources, emphasizing watershed protection, refor- approach to conservation, which emphasizes conserva- estation, agroforestry, and improved water supply tion of critical resources, such as watersheds, through and sanitation varying levels of land use management.

9 A systems ap- To promote Environmental education, training, and proach takes on multisectoral analysis and multilevel communication planning. In this broadened view, regional economic de- velopment and poverty reduction are emphasized. Alter- To improve policy and management native agricultural practices are identified as the key to To establish mechanisms for research, managing reducing slash-and-burn practices and improving natural data, and monitoring the environment. resources management. A participatory process introduced key principles from the Environmental Action plan into other major initia- Problems Encountered tives, including madagascar 's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (2000) and the Rural Development Each phase of the National Action plan has confronted Action Plan (2001).

10 As amply demonstrated in these its own practical and conceptual problems: strategic documents, the government clearly recog- Environment Program 1(1991 97) In relation to the nizes the linkage between the environment and sus- overall issues of Environmental degradation in Mada- tainable development. gascar, the zone of intervention during the first phase protected areas with peripheral zones was too nar- Design and Implementation of Action Plan rowly defined. Analyses identified underlying causes The first phase of the NEAP (1991 97) aimed at cre- of the continued Environmental deterioration, making ating a proper policy, regulatory, and institutional it clear that the issue of protection needed to be ad- framework.