Soanavelandrazana, Madagascar
1. Description of our ICCA
We are the community of Soanavelandrazana, located in the Itasy region, in the heart of the Fokontany Ambohijatovo. Our territory also includes three neighboring villages: Amboniatsimo, Manjaka, and Andranonahoatra. Here, we live in harmony with nature, and we are deeply connected to our environment.
Our community is united and responsible, aware of the importance of our forests, rivers, and agricultural lands for our survival and well-being. Today, we have approximately 405 inhabitants, consisting of 201 men and 204 women. Our daily life is closely linked to and dependent on being interconnected with our land. The natural resources around us are not only sources of livelihood but also shape our cultural and social practices.
Our arable lands are cultivated according to traditional knowledge passed down through generations, through the cultivation of rice, maize, cassava, and various vegetables. Our way of life also includes livestock farming, with pigs, poultry, and notably zebus, which are a cultural symbol. These animals play a role in community rituals and festivities, strengthening social bonds and expressing respect for our traditions. Livestock farming complements our subsistence system by providing protein, natural fertilizers for our crops, and economic capital.
Moreover, most of our women are engaged in traditional crafts, particularly the artisanal production of wild silk thread. These activities are not only economic but also preserve ancestral skills, strengthen social cohesion, and provide women with a sense of autonomy.
What makes our ICCA truly unique are our tapia forests, endemic trees of Madagascar covering an area of 129 hectares. They are home to Borocera cajani (also known as “Landibe”), an endemic silk-producing moth of the island, and are thus important for silk weaving. They are also a valuable resource for medicinal purposes, containing medicinal plants such as talapetraka, rambomboalavo, ravintsara, kininim-potsy, to name a few.
2. Our history
The goal of our living territory has always been clear: "to protect natural resources while ensuring the livelihood of our community." Our ancestors understood that our forests, lands, and rivers are vital common assets for food, drinking water, and traditional forest products. The name "Soanavelandrazana" comes from the tapia forests and means "Heritage from our ancestors." In the past, our ancestors raised silkworms, which was an essential source of income for our communities. Starting in 1900, the tapia forest was divided among families, marked by traditional signs. Today, this attachment to the tapias continues, and our current generations strive to protect this resource through the collective commitment of our community.
3. Community Governance of Our Living Territory
The management of our ICCA is based on a participatory community system. Every member of the community is involved in the governance of the territory. Each member contributes to the protection of the forests, the supervision of the rice fields and tanety (arable land on hills), and the maintenance of collective infrastructure such as dams and fountain stations. Important decisions regarding resource use, species protection, and development projects are made during community meetings, where consensus and respect for ancestral traditions are paramount. However, we also have the Vondron’Olona Ifotony (VOI), or Local Community Initiative, which is composed of volunteers from our community responsible for monitoring the adherence to rules related to the protection of natural resources within our territory, mainly the tapia.
Every category of people within our community is directly involved in the governance of the territory—that is, men, women, youth, and persons with disabilities. This involvement strengthens collective responsibility and ensures that our forests, rivers, and lands continue to support the community today and for future generations.
4. Our Needs and Perspectives
For the future, our community aims to strengthen the protection of our tapia forests, expand conservation areas, and preserve our agricultural and artisanal practices. We also plan to improve our infrastructure, such as dams and water fountains, to better manage water resources. We seek to enhance the capacities of our VOI through training in sustainable resource management and ecological monitoring. We require legal, technical, and resource support for ecological monitoring, as well as assistance in developing sustainable projects to safeguard our environment and culture, and improve the community's well-being. Thus, we remain fully committed to protecting our ICCA while developing activities that enhance community welfare, strengthen our autonomy, and ensure the sustainability of our culture and valuable natural resources.
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.