#Status of Coral Reefs 2002 - International Coral Reef Action Network

Status of Coral Reefs in the South West Indian Ocean Island Node
MAB
MANANARA NORD MARINE RESERVE – MAN AND THE BIOSPHERE RESERVE
The Mananara Nord Biosphere Reserve, in the northeast part of Madagascar, has
merged nature conservation, buffer zone development and participation of local
communities. Madagascar has extremely rich biodiversity with more than 85%
endemism among species; for this reason, conservation of this area is considered an
international priority. A project on conservation and sustainable development in the
Mananara-Nord region started in 1987 with funds from UNDP and in 1990, UNESCO
declared the area a Biosphere reserve in three parts: the core area under national
protection; a 1,000ha marine park; and a terrestrial park. The Biosphere Reserve
contains 47,000 inhabitants.
The strict closure of 3 islets in the marine national park created tension among the
communities. A management plan was developed to avoid conflict and reconcile the
needs of the population and the conservation of the marine national park. The plan
defined: which villages had the right to use the reefs and the conditions of reef use to
be enforced: the limitation of fishing days; the prescribed size of nets; the species
that could be collected and their size; and a ban on harpoons and fishing guns.
Village committees are now involved in the enforcement and fulfilment of the plan
and the activities of the fishing department consist in finding alternatives in effort to
reach a long-term solution.
Ecological Monitoring: This includes marine and terrestrial biodiversity, biological
inventories, vegetation studies including ecological succession and regeneration,
rehabilitation of degraded areas, multiple resource use and land use planning and
impact of local communities on national terrestrial and marine parks.
Socio-economic Monitoring: The population has adopted environment-friendly
techniques introduced by the UNDP conservation and sustainable development
project. Examples include a diversification of rice cultivation and fishing methods.
The introduction of co-management of the marine park has influenced the way the
population responds to the notion of conservation.
Coral reefs are 20% of the natural resources.
Ecological Monitoring is effective.
Socio-economic Monitoring is effective.
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