Project in Mahitsy–Ambohimanjaka, Madagascar
In the rural commune of Mahitsy–Ambohimanjaka, located about 60 kilometers from Antananarivo, local communities have ancestral expertise in raising wild silkworms. This traditional activity, which is a source of cultural identity and income, is now threatened by the scarcity of mulberry plants, which are essential for feeding silkworms.
At the same time, the region is undergoing severe environmental degradation, marked by soil erosion, the disappearance of vegetation cover, and the weakening of iconic ecosystems such as the Andringitra massif and the sacred Lake Mamiomby.
Faced with these challenges, Graine de Vie Madagascar, in collaboration with local stakeholders, is proposing an integrated project aimed at providing sustainable support for the wild silk industry while contributing to the gradual restoration of the landscape. This project places communities at the heart of the action, reconciling local economic development, preservation of natural resources, and resilience to climate change.
The project involves setting up community mulberry nurseries to supply ten wild silk farming associations in the Mahitsy–Andringitra area. The beneficiaries, who already have experience in silkworm farming, have expressed a strong motivation to engage in the production and maintenance of the plants, which is essential to the sustainability of their activity.
Mulberry cultivation will secure food supplies for silkworms, improve the quality and consistency of production, and thereby boost household incomes. Beyond the economic impact, planting mulberry trees also contributes to restoring vegetation cover, stabilizing soils, and combating erosion in a context of increasing climate pressure.
A feasibility analysis conducted in the field also examined the possibilities for ecological restoration of the Andringitra massif and degraded areas around Lake Mamiomby. While these sites are of major ecological interest and have strong symbolic value for local communities, the study highlights significant technical and environmental constraints in the short term. In this context, the project favors a gradual and realistic approach, focusing initial actions on the wild silk sector while laying the groundwork for future ecological restoration.
By supporting this project, partners are contributing to a concrete and measurable initiative that strengthens the autonomy of rural communities, promotes unique local heritage, and contributes to the sustainable protection of Madagascar's ecosystems.
The Hëllef fir d’Natur Foundation invites citizens and businesses wishing to contribute to this reforestation and economic support effort in Madagascar to make a donation. Every contribution collected will be donated in full to finance the nurseries and field actions carried out by Graine de Vie.
