Conservation of Biodiversity and Improvement: Case of the Anjà Community Reserve, Ambalavao District

Abstract

In the world, particularly in tropical countries and particularly in Madagascar, deforestation is a complex phenomenon and difficult to manage due to poor governance and the inability of the State to deal with the situation. Thus, community management is one of the effective solutions, as is the case of Anjà managed by VOI AMI, considered one of the most successful in terms of biodiversity conservation. This article aims to demonstrate that community management is more effective than state management. To study the benefits of such management, we used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative method included interviews, observations and scientific and official documentary research, allowing us to collect detailed information on the different dimensions of management. The quantitative method, for its part, involved a representative stratified sampling of 5% by socio-professional category. This approach allowed us to collect quantitative data on the impacts of the reserve on the income of villagers and their living conditions. Our results showed that villagers benefited from an increase in income, an improvement in their living conditions and a reduction in poverty thanks to the community reserve. In addition, it helped protect the forest island and its inhabitants to a large extent. By offering numerous jobs to villagers, it creates an economic incentive to preserve biodiversity while improving the quality of life of local communities.

Keywords:community reserve, good governance, increase in income, safeguarding biodiversity, Anjà, Ambalavao district.

DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/13-19-05

Publication date: December 31^st 2023