Ecological Restoration and Reforestation of Fragmented Forests in Kianjavato, Madagascar

A reforestation effort in Kianjavato Commune in southeast Madagascar is presented that combines native diversity with rapidly growing introduced and native pioneer trees. This work utilizes a three-tiered corridor design that capitalizes on the region’s mountainous terrain. The process of seed selection, transplantation, and survival rate of seedlings over a 16 month period is reported. The uppermost 50% of each mountain is planted with 38 woody species and most closely approximates native forest. This tier was divided into two categories, pioneer and secondary species. Most of the pioneer species were not native; however, results showed that four fast-growing, environmentally-tolerant native species could be suitable alternatives: Streblus mauritianus, Syzygium bernieri, Treculia madagascariensis and Uapaca thouarsii. More than 70,000 seeds of secondary species were extracted from fecal samples from wild, free-ranging black and white ruffed lemurs; the majority of which germinated significantly better after gut passage. The most effective pretreatment that enhanced germination was to scarify unwashed seeds. Commercially valuable trees, belonging to the community members, were grown on the lower half of each mountain. Lastly, the various contributions of the community are described along with agroforestry development plans designed to reduce pressure on forest resources and generate supplemental income. 1. Introduction Madagascar is world-renowned for its unique biodiversity with entire families of endemic plants and animals. Ensuring the survival of these species is complicated by the poorly regulated use of the country’s natural resources. As of 2010, more than 80% of Madagascar’s 16 million rural residents were living below the poverty line [1] and the World Bank [2] reported that 90% of people living in extreme poverty depend on forest resources as a direct means of support. The combination of poverty and a skyrocketing population has contributed to Maplecroft [3] ranking Madagascar fifth in the world of countries at “Extreme Risk” on the Climate Change Vulnerability Index reflecting the country’s perceived inability to withstand climate change. The country’s vulnerability to changing weather patterns coupled with rapid deforestation and political instability threaten Madagascar’s citizens and wildlife. More than 40% of Madagascar’s forests were estimated to have been lost between 1950 and 2000 with the deforestation rate escalating since the political coup in 2009 [4–6]. To ensure the survival of Madagascar’s wildlife, numerous conservation