"Biodiversity Conservation Madagascar" (BCM) is a registered Malagasy conservation association and is the conservation arm in Madagascar of Bioculture (Mauritius) Ltd. The aim of BCM is to conserve biodiversity by obtaining conservation management rights to highly threatened native forests in Madagascar. Forests under BCM control thus become officially recognized conservation zones. Protection is then provided by local villagers trained and employed by BCM as forest guards. BCM also provides development aid to local communities in exchange for their commitment to help preserve their forest.

In 2003 BCM obtained for 25 years, conservation management rights to Sahafina through a signed convention* with the Ministry of Eaux et Forêts and the "Communes Rurales" of Anivorano and Mahatsara. Sahafina is a remnant block of 2,500 hectares of lowland rainforest to the west of Brickaville, Tamatave Province, Eastern Madagascar. 

It is of high biodiversity value and has 8 lemur species. It contains both lowland and upland faunal and floral elements.

Threats 

•  unsustainable illegal logging, slash and burn agriculture (Tavy) and bushmeat huntin

• Our Approach
  

We are working with local communities to protect the forest and its inhabitants and improve local livelihoods who are reliant on the forest. We employ locals to guard the forest and reduce deforestation and poaching, and women to managed the production of indigenous plants in the plant nurseries we have created. Training in efficient crop production and management is provided to local communities to reduce the necessity to clear more forest.

Benefits to the local community

The local community welcomed help to protect the ‘richesse naturelle’ of their forest which was being destroyed. BCM is making Conservation Payments to the local community. 

• Funding: employment (recruited mostly from local villages): 20 forest guards, 1 supervisor, 1 Agricultural Technician, 1 Education Officer, 4 Plant Nursery workers (‘Pépiniéristes’)
  
• Development aid: Financing agricultural extension services and Infrastructure.

BCM with the aid of the local community has converted 2500 ha of threatened forest into a protected conservation zone. 

BCM has also established a scholarship to fund lemur studies at Sahafina –this fund is managed through GERP Madagascar.