Hello, my name is Inge, and I am inviting you to donate towards the impactful work of the Association Sakalava in Madagascar, restoring biodiversity, and preserving culture for future generations!

Last spring, I was lucky enough to spend time in the Sakalava community of Boeny Miray to document their medicinal plant knowledge. I was in awe and deeply inspired by their beautiful traditional lifestyle, and the rich cultural traditions and crafts of the Sakalava ethnic group. ☾

Our Sakalava host, Joary Joarson, has a deep passion for nature and founded the Association Sakalava in 2024 to unite community members in the protection and restoration of their ancestral land. The fishing community is guardian of their ancestral land on the north-west coast of Madagascar. ️This area consists of dry and tropical forest and mangroves, rich in biodiversity, such as lemurs, flamingo's and tortoises, and rich in culture! Tropical dry forests are considered one of the most threatened ecosystems worldwide.

THE IMPACT so far

The Association Sakalava has already had a visible impact on the natural environment. Indigenous people and local communities are by far the best suited to care for their land, however, they often have very limited to no resources at all to do so. Community life here is based on subsistence fishing and crafts woven from palm leaves, and they have never before raised any funds or received donations. Therefore, I am now asking you to donate towards the impactful work of the Association Sakalava, restoring biodiversity, and preserving culture for future generations!

THE GOALS YOUR DONATION SUPPORTS

Protecting the natural environment

Taking action against illegal fishing practices and charcoal production. So far, the association has managed to drastically reduce illegal fishing through months of committed daily patrolling on the beach and collaborating with local authorities. Illegal charcoal production has reduced, but is still a threat.

YOUR DONATION can provide for signage on beaches and a modest daily salary for the work of patrolling and liaising with local authorities. When a community member is patrolling they can’t go out fishing or caring for children, so a small salary helps!

Ecosystem restoration

Planting trees to restore damage from previous illegal charcoal production. Previous burning of trees has damaged the forest throughout the territory, affecting animals and plants. The community is actively planting mangrove seeds, has built a small nursery, and want to start planting in rain season (Nov-Feb). However, they need to be able to scale up their work to have a real impact!

YOUR DONATION will support building of additional nurseries and tools, creating additional wells for the dry season, local transport of seeds and modest daily salary for local fishermen to plant trees.

Celebrating Sakalava culture

Preserving and sharing Sakalava culture; their history, traditions, rituals and rich medicinal plant knowledge. Joary has been studying Sakalava culture with elders and sharing it locally. In our collaboration in spring 2025 we documented over 200 medicinal plants used daily in the community.

YOUR DONATION will support the continuation of this through creation of a book of Sakalava culture and medicinal plants, and possibly a cultural educational program.

Education and sustainable income for the future

Teaching women and children about Sakalava culture, traditional crafts and environmental protection. The association has started to produce small batches of coconut oil, as well as salt production and planting of fruit trees, and more recently beehives for honey production.

YOUR DONATION will support the success and growth of these enterprises, by providing initial salaries, purchasing necessary materials, transporting costs, and necessary training for the new beekeeping initiative.

Climate change adaptation

Climate change is affecting access to drinking water. Temperatures are rising, and rainfall in the rainy season has reduced. The water in the sacred lake Amparilhiava, one of the sources of drinking water, has significantly reduced, and the community is looking for solutions.

YOUR DONATION will support research into solutions, possibly the purchase of seeds and small trees to protect water from evaporation and possibly the creation of a new freshwater lake in the vicinity.