Anjà, Madagascar
1. Description
Anjà is located in the Haute Matsiatra region of Madagascar. Our community, called "Fokonolona Anjà," belongs to the Betsileo ethnicity. Our community consists of 985 inhabitants, including 475 men and 510 women. The main livelihoods of our community include tourism, agriculture (notably rice, vegetables, and fruits), livestock farming (cattle, pigs, poultry), the sale of essential goods, craftsmanship, and carpentry.
Anjà is distinguished by its mixed ecosystem composed of mountains, forests, rivers, and forbidden lands culturally protected through the beliefs and practices of the communities. Regarding our flora and fauna, we have over 600 individuals of ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), as well as chameleons (Chamaeleo spp.), Acanthophis madagascariensis dumerilli, white crows (Corvus albus), Madagascar fodies (Foudia madagascariensis), and other species. Our flora includes Aloe vera, Angraecum sororium, and Saldina probascidea, among others.
We are also renowned for our community governance system, which combines ecological protection, sustainable tourism, and the preservation of traditional practices. For our community, our goals are to protect local natural resources, defend our rights against external threats, and strengthen social cohesion while preserving our cultural practices.
2. Our history
Our territory of life has experienced several events that have marked the history of our community. It all began in 1999, when we created the ZAMITIA Association (Zanak’Anjà Miaro ny Tontolo Iainana), which was born from our community's awareness of the impacts of climate change. Through this association, we strengthened our commitment to preserve our natural resources by establishing community rules and carrying out ecological actions. In 2003, we officially obtained our first management transfer contract with the relevant local authorities. The Vondron’Olona Ifotony (VOI), or Local Community Initiatives (Anjà MIray) was created to enhance resource management in Anjà. Currently, all members of our community are part of the VOI, demonstrating our dedication to proper management and governance of our territory of life.
Local communities of Anjà
3. Community governance of our territory of life
Our community has established its own organizational system, which consists of several structures as follows :
- The Advisors : They suggest ideas for the development of our territory, develop proposals to advance the VOI, and facilitate community meetings by consulting with each other.
- The Committees: All members of our community over the age of 18 are members of different committees. These committees are responsible for defining and implementing action plans for the development of Anjà, in collaboration with the advisors. Each committee is led by a leader who meets with the advisors to develop projects and carry out necessary tasks. There are six committees, each with specific responsibilities: (i) The Development Committee, responsible for constructing community infrastructure; (ii) The Tourism Committee, tasked with effectively managing tourism activities in Anjà; (iii) The Social Committee, working to improve the social conditions of the community; (iv) The Agriculture and Livestock Committee, dedicated to improving agricultural activities; (v) The Customary Law Committee, responsible for preserving our ancestral practices and beliefs; (vi) The Dina Committee, which is responsible for the effective implementation of the Dina (community convention) within our territory.
- The Management Office: Is responsible for implementing the action plans developed by the committees and reports to the VOI representatives.
- Elders: They offer advice on traditions and customs. When a decision needs to be made collectively, they provide their opinion and take charge of seeking solutions if necessary.
- Community Meeting: All decisions concerning our territory must be made during the community assembly. These are adopted through votes. For decisions to be valid, the participation of at least two-thirds (2/3) of community members is required during the meeting.
Anjà's experience demonstrates how community conservation can combine biodiversity protection, economic development, and cultural transmission, through the strong involvement of the Fokonolona (community) and a governance structure organized into commissions.
Anjà Lemurs
4. Our needs and perspectives
The threats and challenges faced by our community include climate change, which disrupts the agricultural calendar, reduces productivity, and threatens food security, as well as land degradation caused by erosion and soil impoverishment, limiting the effectiveness of farming and grazing practices. Despite these difficulties, we have managed to improve our income through tourism, while maintaining social cohesion and the transmission of our traditional practices. We believe that through solidarity, community engagement, and the valorization of our natural and cultural resources, Anjà can continue to thrive while preserving its environment. Our vision for the future is a territory where sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and the preservation of traditions coexist harmoniously. Together, with the support of local, national, and international partners, we aim to strengthen our initiatives, improve the quality of life of our residents, and ensure a resilient future for the generations to come. The strength of our community lies in our ability to combine tradition and innovation, for a territory that is enriched, protected, and prosperous.
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