Amby, Madagascar
1. Description of our ICCA
Amby is located in the Itasy region of Madagascar, characterized by its landscape ornamented by carpet forests. Our ICCA covers an area of 966ha, containing several villages including Antsapanimahazo, Ambalabe, Fandalova, Ankazo, Antanetibe, Merinavaratra, Ambohimanana, Tsaratanàna, Tsarahonenana, Ambohimanjaka and Manjakaonina. Every corner of our territory tells a story, and together they form a mosaic of ecological richness and the diversity of natural resources.
In these tapia forests, we have a wealth of endemic flora and fauna of the country, including the wild silkworm, known scientifically as "Borocera cajani", as well as Xerochlamys bojeriana and Buddleja madagascariensis. We see these natural resources as assets to be protected for our future generations. Since its inception, our ICCA has been guided by a clear purpose to collectively preserve and manage our lands and natural resources. We know that our survival and well-being depend on protecting the tapia forests and other natural resources in our home territory. From our perspective, protecting natural resources is not only an ecological duty, but also a way to secure our livelihoods and pass on a lasting legacy to our future generations.
Regarding our community, we are made up of 1,444 inhabitants, of whom 580 are men and 864 are women. Our daily lives are based on what the land and animals offer us. We grow rice, cassava, maize, taro, beans, as well as various vegetables. Our herds of oxen, pigs, chickens, sheep and rabbits complete our subsistence.
Amby is a space where culture, traditions and conservation come together. Every daily activity, ceremony and community initiative helps to strengthen social cohesion and the deep connection we have with our land. Community life and nature conservation complement each other, and it is this dynamic that makes our ICCA a living example of community governance and the protection of natural resources.
2. Our history
Our history is deeply rooted in our territory and traditions. The very name of our ICCA originates from the establishment of the first school in the hamlet of Antsapanimahazo. The construction of the school, shortly after Madagascar's independence in 1960, was a defining moment for our community as we debated passionately to decide on its location. The tensions between the north and south of the area gave rise to the now legendary expression "Amby aty e!", which means "Come here!", a symbol of compromise and unity. This story tells how our community began to come together and collectively organize its life around a common good, marking the beginning of structured local governance.
3. Our preservation values
In Amby, conservation is above all a community issue. Each of us participates in its preservation, through respect for our traditions, our community regulations as well as through an active commitment to raising awareness and promoting our common values related to the protection of resources. The preservation of nature is experienced as a collective project, a source of pride and a tool to strengthen social ties. The preservation of our territory is not only a responsibility, it is a matter of course, a way of life. Each tree, each plant, each watercourse is considered a living heritage, to be respected and passed on.
Conservation in Amby has already produced tangible effects. Together, we carefully monitor the use of resources so that agricultural and livestock practices remain sustainable. We observed a notable regeneration of tapia forests and rigorous maintenance of crop and grazing areas. This strengthens local biodiversity: medicinal plants are multiplying, and some animal species, once endangered, are finding safe habitats.
4. Community governance of our territory of life
At home in Amby, everyone knows their role, whether it's helping to protect the tapia forests, supervising the crops or ensuring that our traditional rules are followed. As for decisions, they are taken at community meetings, where every voice counts and where the opinion of the majority defines the direction of actions.
In terms of governance, we have developed a structure made up of:
- A president of the fokontany who encourages and coordinates activities, supervises administration and supports the implementation of collective decisions
- Mobile neighbourhoods that ensure safety at the local level.
- The village elders who ensure the transmission of traditional knowledge.
- The Local Base Communities or VOIs, which are formed by volunteers from our community. Their roles include overseeing the use of resources, protecting tapia forests and ensuring the regeneration of medicinal plants.
However, all decisions to be made about our territory of life are made by our entire community at community meetings. Indeed, we have understood that the active participation of every member of the community is essential for the success of conservation. Sharing responsibilities and respecting local rules ensure more efficient and equitable management of resources. We also learned that the combination of traditional knowledge and external technical support allows us to respond more effectively to environmental threats and improve the resilience of our territory in the face of climate change and economic pressures.
5. Our needs and prospects
Our community plans to continue to protect our tapia forests, crops, and fishing grounds while developing activities that sustainably support our livelihoods. In particular, we plan to improve irrigation systems, increase agricultural and technical training for young people and adults, and strengthen the monitoring of our biodiversity, in order to prevent illegal logging.
This case study was originally published by UNEP-WCMC in 02/26. The content was provided by the custodians of this ICCA. The ICCA has been self-declared and has been through a peer-review process to verify its status. More details on this process can be found here. The contents of this website do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UN Environment Programme or UNEP-WCMC.