Saro essential oil and raffia fibre prove to have the best economic and forest regeneration potential in the Antanambao forest landscape (Boeny region): processing and exporting companies (also) invest in the production and regeneration of the raffia and essential oil plantations, although still at low rates.
These are the results of a study carried out by Fair & Sustainable Consulting (F&S) for the GIZ Sectoral Programme “International Forest Policy” (SV IWP) in Madagascar. The objectives of the study were :
(a) to select and analyse forest related value chains that have potential to generate revenue for the local population, and
(b) to evaluate the restoration potential of the Antanambao forest landscape that is under threat due to over-exploitation, insufficient replanting, uncontrolled bushfires and grazing.
F&S analysed the high-end wood craft market, and the honey, raffia fiber, saro essential oil (Cinnamosma fragrans) and silverpalm seed (Bismarckia nobilis) value chains. The ValueLinks methodology activities consists of mapping actors and their commercial relationships, and an estimation of production costs, added value and revenues for the different value chain operators. The current land use and land interests were also analysed, and a proposal was made for the demarcation of the landscape based on water catchment areas and potentially conflicting land use. This land use analysis showed production – natural resource interdependencies, such as a raffia forest playing a key role in water conservation and water supply to rice fields.
The team was led by F&S consultant Jochem Schneemann, with Sophieke Kappers and Gerald Randriambololona as team members.
Jochem : “The ValueLinks selection and analysis tools worked well; to our satisfaction we succeeded to produce fair estimates of the economic and natural resource conservation potential of each value chain in a qualitative and quantitative way. I think this was the first time it was done this way. Developing the infographic was again interesting as we really had to limit ourselves to the most essential information and message.”
GIZ published the full study and the French and English infographics (see also below), which can be downloaded here.
For more information, please contact Jochem Schneemann at jochem.schneemann@fairandsustainable.org.
