Madagascar is marked by unparalleled biodiversity and vibrant cultures, yet is facing a profound environmental crisis not of its own making. SEED Madagascar’s Corporate Liaison Officer opens up about her work to protect lives and landscapes.
A: Madagascar is on the cusp of environmental and human collapse. It boasts remarkable biodiversity and a rich cultural heritage, blending influences from Asia and Africa. However, the situation is dire: around 90% of Madagascar’s original forests have been lost, leaving mere pockets of forests. This fragmentation is splitting populations in devastating ways. For example, very few of the lemurs can survive when the population is being reduced in each place. Ecosystems thrive on diversity, and the edges of the forests are beginning to die.
A tree that is used to being in the forest’s center struggles to survive when it is suddenly on the edge.
A: SEED’s sustainable livelihood program partners with communities to create projects that enhance resiliency and long-term stability by building on traditional practices. One standout example is Project Stitch, launched in 2012. This initiative transformed rural women’s sewing skills into a thriving embroidery business, producing locally inspired bags, cushion covers, and wall hangings for both local and tourist markets.
Starting with 12 women, the project grew to around 100 participants by its tenth year and now operates largely independently from SEED. The artisans’ creations are deeply rooted in their local environment and culture, free from Western influence.
Previously dependent on seasonal fishing income, many families now enjoy year-round financial stability. This steady income has enabled families to send their children to school, access healthcare, and afford small luxuries. The project has also fostered community cohesion, with women gathering at a central studio to create, display their work, and connect with one another.
A: A recent initiative we launched at the end of 2023, the Community Light Libraries project, introduces solar panels to rural schools in partnership with a local partner.
This solar element brings power and lighting to schools previously without electricity due to their remote locations. SEED classrooms now function more effectively with extended teaching hours, particularly in winter. Rechargeable lamps that community members can rent replace smoky, flammable kerosene lamps, improving safety and visibility. The extra light also boosts income-generating activities, like weaving mats, by extending productive hours.
The pilot project’s success led to a waiting list for solar power packs, prompting an expansion to include all schools. Our goal is to ensure every school benefits from this transformative energy solution.
A: Madagascar is home to over 100 species of lemurs, crucial for maintaining forest ecosystems as prolific pollinators. With flowers and fruit, lemurs help create the next generation of forest ecosystems.
The founder’s deep love for lemurs, sparked by a research project in Madagascar, was a key reason SEED was established. Immersed in the island’s beauty and its environmental threats, he developed a passion for lemur conservation that now drives SEED’s 10-year plan to protect these endangered species.
However, in times of extreme food insecurity, such as the current crisis in Madagascar, lemurs are often hunted as a food source despite their cultural significance. To protect them effectively, it’s essential to address underlying issues like poverty and economic instability.
SEED’s approach includes integrating environmental and community impact through projects like a women’s weaving cooperative. This initiative empowers local women to sustainably manage reeds from wetlands, enhancing both their livelihoods and environmental stewardship.
A: Given the complex interplay between environmental and social issues, several superpowers come to mind. First, the ability to dismantle structural barriers that hinder rural communities from accessing basic needs would be transformative, particularly given Madagascar’s isolation and logistical challenges. Second, the power to instantly restore ecosystems would address the severe impacts of deforestation and climate change on the island’s rich biodiversity. Finally, controlling the weather could alleviate the worsening droughts and food insecurity, directly improving both environmental health and community resilience. These superpowers could dramatically enhance our efforts to create a sustainable and thriving Madagascar.
A: One of the most profound moments occurred during the 2020 crisis, when Madagascar faced severe cyclones, droughts, and extreme food insecurity. SEED rapidly mobilized to provide essential supplies like beans, rice, and cooking oil, as well as malnutrition treatment for children, in collaboration with local health centers.
With many staff members repatriating due to the crisis, our remaining team spent weeks conducting needs assessments across rural communities, discovering widespread starvation and dire conditions. Some families were resorting to grinding ash from fires and mixing it with water to create a paste to eat. The SEED deliveries likely saved many lives.
The most moving part of this experience came two years later, when we evaluated the impact and found a 100% recovery rate for children diagnosed with malnutrition.
This success highlighted how even modest resources could have a significant impact in Madagascar. It was a powerful reminder of how a little can indeed go a long way in making a meaningful difference amidst extreme adversity.
A: It is the way of life that inspires us so deeply. The profound generosity and dedication of the local people. Despite widespread poverty, people here are incredibly kind and committed to environmental stewardship.
The attitudes of the communities has led to the success of our projects. Their passion is what gives the projects longevity.
When we’re building schools, some of them are miles into rural landscapes only accessible by dirt roads or rivers with only pedestrian access. In almost every school we’ve built, there has been some obstacle stopping materials from getting there.
Yet always, the community members will offer up their wheelbarrows or tractors or even help carry materials by hand just to make sure the children of their communities can have a quality classroom to learn in.
A:Madagascar is one of the world’s most biodiverse landscapes with its varied ecosystems—from drylands to lush forests, and from coasts to wetlands. This makes it so uniquely beautiful but also vulnerable to various threats.
I think if Madagascar could speak, it would endeavor to share its beauty with the world. I think it would urge us to take action to save its species.
SEED is amplifying this message by actively working to protect these ecosystems and engage communities in sustainable practices that safeguard their natural heritage.
Featured Photo: Transform the Lives of Children in Gujarat, India by SEED MadagascarFind exactly what you're looking for in our Learn Library by searching for specific words or phrases related to the content you need.
