The Velondriake Community Protected Area is a large network of marine and terrestrial protected areas along the southwest coast of Madagascar.
It was developed through the efforts of several non-governmental organizations working closely with local community members and building on traditional community values.
Management efforts focus on octopus, a commercially-important and fast-growing species. The initiative began as a temporary octopus fishing closure in one village. After seeing positive results, 22 other villages in the area eventually embraced the no-take zone and protected area concepts.
NGOs largely provide technical assistance with a goal of eventually having villages independently monitor and manage the marine resources. To provide an institutional structure, the villages formed a community-based association to oversee and enforce regulations and management.
The Velondriake initiative has become a model that was embraced by other villages along the Madagascar coast. As of 2010, more than 50 additional villages have instituted more than 100 fishery closures.
Mission
The Velondriake Community Protected Area works to achieve the following goals:
Lead Organizations
Key Parties
Velondriake Association
In 2006, the participants formed the Velondriake Association, a formalized, community-based organization responsible for enforcing local law and overseeing administration of the marine protected areas.
The Velondriake Association includes:
NGO Role
NGOs provide advice and funding. Blue Ventures works with Velondriake under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding. It provides technical advice and supports scientific surveys, among other tasks. Eighty percent of the funding for Velondriake comes from an arm of Blue Ventures. Other funding comes from private funders, Wildlife Conservation Society, World Wildlife Fund, and foundations.
In the early 2000s, the octopus fisheries in southwestern Madagascar began being exploited more intensively. An export market had developed. After a French company opened a new industrial processing plan, exports of squid and octopus doubled.
Meanwhile, the local population had increased and inland food production suffered. In response, domestic demand for octopus and seafood spiked.
In addition, the reef ecosystem that supported octopus showed signs of stress from agricultural run-off and coral bleaching.
As catches began to decline, several NGOs that were already on-site began strategizing on how best to protect the reef ecosystem. Two NGOs, UK-based ecotourism operator Blue Ventures and the Wildlife Conservation Society, facilitated an experimental, seven-month no-take zone for octopus with the village of Andavadoaka. The site was chosen by village leaders and the closure took place in 2004. When the conservation measures expired, villagers noticed that catches of octopus had increased and the mean size of octopus was larger.
The next year, in 2005, the closure was repeated and expanded to two additional sites. More villages became involved. By 2006, four groupings of villages had chosen sites and established permanent fin fish reserves, permanent and temporary mangrove no-take zones, and temporary octopus no-take zones.
At large-scale community meetings, villagers codified regulations and governance structures.
As of 2010, Velondriake had expanded to include fishing territories accessed by 25 villages.
The Ecosystem
The Velondriake Community Protected Area encompasses more than 800 square kilometers of coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove and baobab forests in southwestern Madagascar, an area of high biodiversity and species endemism. More than 70 percent of Madagascan species are endemic.
Velondriake is home to 160 species of coral, 400 species of reef fish, and 240 species of mollusks. Dolphins, sea turtles and migratory whales also appear in the reserve.
The coral reefs of Velondriake include the northern end of the Grand Recif of Toliara, the third largest continuous reef system in the world. Velondriake’s mangrove forests provide key nursery and breeding habitat for fish, crustaceans and birds. They also shelter coastal communities from storm surges and mitigate erosion.
Threats
The Velondriake ecosystem faces threats that include:
Community-Defined No-Take Zones
Velondriake makes use of an extensive system of permanent and seasonal no-take zones. The zones are defined by the participating villages and are the product of extensive discussions among village members. Each village creates a plan that is presented to the participating NGOs, which provide advice. Rules for the zones build on traditional legal and enforcement practices.
Alternative Livelihoods
The Velondriake Association is exploring the creation of alternative livelihoods for villagers, such as sea cumber and seaweed farming. Ecotourism also is an area of interest, primarily facilitated through Blue Ventures, which attracts young European travelers. The NGO trains local guides and provides some instruction in language and public relations skills. It is also developing a locally-owned eco-lodge.
Ecological and socio-economic monitoring of marine protected areas is conducted by Blue Ventures and villagers. Monitoring plans are developed with each community. Education and training are given to participating villagers. Ecological data is collected to establish baselines for long-term monitoring. Community members carry out ecological surveys. Monthly data is collected on octopus and fish landings. Other efforts involve monitoring village members’ attitudes of the marine protected areas.
Ecological Improvements
Stocks of commercially-important species, particularly octopus, have increased in the management area. Other species, however, remain vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered, such as Napoleon Wrasse.
Increased Awareness and Concern
Villagers show increased awareness and concern for the ecosystem. Prior to the initiative, local villagers felt victimized by forces they believed were outside their control when their catches declined. Now, they can choose and enact management practices that contribute to their own success, providing a greater sense of stewardship over the marine resources.
Creation of a Community-Based Organization
The Velondriake Association is considered a legitimate community-based organization. It is grounded in villagers’ ownership of the process. It enables both top-down and bottom-up communication and could facilitate future initiatives.
Creation of a Model
The Velondriake initiative serves as a model for fisheries conservation in Madagscar. Other villages outside of the area are adopting the Velonriake approach. By 2010, in fact, more than 50 villages elsewhere along the coast had implemented more than 100 fishery closures.
The Velondriake Community Protected Area has been facilitated by the following factors:
The Velondriake Community Protected Area has encountered the following challenges:
Blue Ventures: http://blueventures.org/
Wildlife Conservation Society: http://www.wcs.org/
World Wildlife Fund: http://www.worldwildlife.org/home-full.html