World Wildlife Fund

The Madagascar Foundation for Protected Areas and Biodiversity

Angonoka males combat to establish dominance before mating in the Ampijoroa Capture Breeding Station, Madagascar
© WWF-Canon / Meg Gawler

With assistance from WWF and other partners, Madagascar is working to develop new sustainable financing mechanisms for conservation. One of the most promising mechanisms resulting from this process is the creation of a conservation trust fund to support Madagascar's unique biodiversity. In early 2001, the Minister of Environment of Madagascar asked WWF to provide technical assistance to the steering committee responsible for designing the fund. In January 2005, the Madagascar Foundation for Protected Areas and Biodiversity was formally established as a public benefit foundation under Malagasy law.

WWF is working closely with the government of Madagascar and Madagascar's protected areas agency, ANGAP (l'Association Nationale pour la Gestion des Aires Protégées -- Parcs Nationaux Madagascar), as well as international donors including the German and French governments, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the World Bank. The role of conservation partners, such as Conservation International and the Wildlife Conservation Society, is also important, particularly since international conservation organizations are expected to play a key role in mobilizing private sector funding for the trust fund. The USAID-financed PAGE program (Projet d'Appui à la Gestion de l'Environnement), an environmental management support project managed by the International Resources Group, has commissioned WWF's conservation finance program to act as a facilitator for the trust fund steering committee.

In order to support conservation needs in Madagascar's protected areas, it is estimated that $50 million will need to be raised to endow the fund, with additional funds needed now that President Marc Ravalomanana has committed to triple Madagascar's protected area coverage. Several government bilateral donors have expressed strong support for the trust fund. The Foundation was founded by Conservation International (CI) and WWF, who have each committed to contribute $1 million, and the Government of Madagascar through a Euro 10.2 million debt-for-nature swap agreed with the Government of Germany. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation provided WWF with $500,000 for the Foundation's endowment fund. The World Bank has also committed $7.5 million in International Development Association (IDA) grants, and both the French and German governments have expressed interest in contributing additional funds.