Second Quarterly Report - aeecl.orgaeecl.org/documents/quarterly1806.pdf · DREEF: Direction...
Transcript of Second Quarterly Report - aeecl.orgaeecl.org/documents/quarterly1806.pdf · DREEF: Direction...
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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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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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.