Ralahy Fidèle proudly posing in front of a nursery of which he is the caretaker and team leader, Iritsoka, Betroka, Atsimo-Andrefana, Madagascar, 2025. Photo Credit: Hasimbola Andriamady/Cabinet Harson
EnvironmentSociety MadagascarNew Hope for Renewed Land
Through a project tailored for Madagascar’s reality and struggles, the country was able to restore degraded land, thus reigniting hope, protecting livelihoods, and building long-term climate resilience across the island nation.
“This isn’t work that takes just a few months,” states Ralahy Fidèle, a citizen who donated 5,000 m2 of his own land to build a nursery. “We’re committed for the long haul, bringing our skills, our resources, and our solidarity to restore, protect, and care for these lands for years to come. The future of our children and our region is at stake.”
Launched in 2020, the Support for Resilient Livelihood in the South of Madagascar project, also known as the MIONJO project, enabled the stabilisation of 1,500 hectares of dunes, the reforestation of 220 hectares, and the establishment of 24 plant nurseries featuring resilient species. The large-scale, multi-sectoral initiative was designed to build resilience in the Great South, serving some 1.4 million people across 235 rural communes in the Atsimo-Andrefana, Androy, and Anosy regions. Environmental restoration is at the heart of the MIONJO project. In partnership with local and international organisations, including the Tany Meva Foundation and Catholic Relief Services, practical solutions were implemented to protect farmland, strengthen ecosystems, halt desertification, and improve daily life.
