Discussing the best management practices

Since Monday, Mahajanga has been hosting the fifth edition of the national forum organized by the Mihari network, focusing on coastal communities’ ability to cope with climate change.

This annual event gathers over 290 coastal communities, technical and financial partners such as KFW, the French Development Agency, USAID, and representatives from national and local authorities. The Mihari network spearheads the event, which is sponsored by the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy. Participants will spend five days addressing the theme, « LMMA Communities, Resilient to Climate Change ».

Since the introduction of Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMA) in Madagascar, communities have been empowered to sustainably manage their marine resources while adapting to the impacts of climate change. Local communities handle much of the monitoring and protection of marine resources. Their proximity and deep knowledge of ecosystems allow them to quickly respond to environmental changes.

Community-managed areas play a key role in preserving and restoring habitats, thereby safeguarding essential ecosystem services for local populations. Madagascar’s mangroves, for instance, store around 303 million tons of CO₂, highlighting a critical opportunity to address strategies for coastal resilience in the face of climate change. The forum aims to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, discuss best practices for managing marine and coastal resources, enhance the skills of local managers, and promote community-led solutions to climate challenges.