Varuna Project: a pilot Initiative takes root in Analalava

As part of the Varuna Programme, a follow-up mission took place recently in Analalava, in the district of Sofia. This visit, led by the head of the Business-Biodiversity Fund, aimed to assess the progress of the first year of the project to create an indigenous seed bank. This project, developed in partnership with Bôndy, the Réunion association Opti'Pousse Haie (OPh) and the Malagasy NGO Vahatra, is part of an ecological restoration dynamic rooted in local realities.

A local initiative to preserve ecosystems

The seed bank aims to collect and preserve the seeds of native trees adapted to the ecosystems of the region. To this end, an important survey of species has been launched, accompanied by detailed landscape mapping. The objective is to better know the local species, to select the most relevant ones for restoration, and to organize their collection in a rigorous and sustainable manner. This first field visit allowed the team to see the progress made. A meeting with members of the NGO Vahatra introduced the program of the day. It was followed by the discovery of the facilities, including the nursery currently under development, which will house future plants from local seeds. The process of collecting, sorting, and storing seeds was presented in detail, illustrating the technical rigor that goes into each step. A demonstration of the GPS geolocation tool was also held, showing how mother trees and collection areas are identified and recorded using a mobile application. The team then visited the plots selected for future reforestation.

One of the highlights of the day was the participation in a participatory mapping workshop. This collaborative exercise brought local communities together around a collective map of their territory. By drawing their surroundings, the participants identified key ecosystems, potential harvesting areas and land suitable for reforestation. This approach reinforces the involvement of residents and facilitates the integration of the project into local daily life. The “awareness and training” component is a pillar of the project. To date, 1,080 people have been made aware of the benefits of planting endemic species. In addition, 200 collectors have already received training on collection techniques and the challenges of sustainable reforestation. Workshops are regularly organized in order to transmit botanical and ecological knowledge essential to the success of the project. In addition to plant production, the seed bank plans to offer services to local actors. Native plants will be put on sale, accompanied by technical advice for private reforesters and State services. In parallel, documentation work is in progress, with the production of ethno-botanical data and the drafting of practical guides intended to encourage the use of local species in restoration projects.

Expected ecological, economic and social benefits

The expected impacts are multiple. On the ecological level, the project contributes to the preservation of endemic forest ecosystems and to the fight against invasive species. The restoration of degraded landscapes is based on the introduction of adapted species, capable of fully playing their ecological role. From an economic point of view, the project aims to demonstrate the viability of a local seed bank model that can be replicated on a larger scale. Finally, on the social level, it promotes the strengthening of local skills and the creation of income, through collection, production and reforestation activities. This implementation marks a decisive step. It testifies to the commitment of partners and local communities in a collective restoration approach, based on knowledge, inclusion and respect for local ecological dynamics.