The Mahabana team planting mangrove propagules.

The Mahabana Team




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Author: Jamie Shattenberg is the guest columnist for this update on Madagascar.  As the son of missionaries in Madagascar, Jamie has developed a strong love for the land.  His desire is to help the healing of Madagascar by replenishing its native habitat. 

Mahabana is a remote fishing village located about 200 miles Southeast of Mahajanga, Madagascar.  The village is surrounded by a vast mangrove forest filled with interweaving channels full of fish, birds and a colony of Madagascar flying foxes, Pteropus rufus.  In recent years large portions of the forest have been cut down for lumber and charcoal.  This same scenario is seen all along the coast as the demand for charcoal and building lumber increases.


In an effort to counter the deforestation and help teach the Malagasy to manage their natural resources, Eden Projects has started a mangrove reforestation project.  Initially, it was an experiment to see if it was possible but it soon proved to be a successful and efficient project as over 150,000 trees were planted in the first 12 months.  We have discovered that the forest is composed of at least 6 species of Mangroves trees, however further research and exploration may expose more.  At this time, three of the most densely populated and desired trees have been planted.  The greatest difficulty of this project is collecting the seeds, or propagules which fall from the tree like arrows when they are mature and stick into the soft mud where they quickly sprout.  A second difficulty is planting around the tides which only permit two 6 day planting sessions each month.  Our team

Madagascar flying fox

of planters also encountered opposition from other villagers at the onset of the project but over time and through community meetings, the opposition has diminished.  In contrast to initial feelings, more and more people long to be a part of the project.  The children have also been a great asset as they collect the propagules and give them to the planters in exchange for a small fee. 


Our team of eight planters love being a part of this project and have embraced the dream of sustaining and reforesting the mangrove forests that surround their home.  The team is composed of four teams of two.  Josy and Anna manage the project and plant alongside Dina and Maman’i Eby, Boto and Maman’i Rasendra, as well as Maman’i Sisy, and Dadan’i Sisy.  Along with them, we desire to see this project grow up and down the coast, helping provide income to those struggling to survive while sustaining and reforesting the mangroves of Madagascar.