Along the Eastern Coast of the Masoala peninsula, coral reefs protecting a diverse richness of marine resources are being threatened by natural disasters and over exploitation. The Government of Madagascar has given a special priority in its new 5 year environmental plan to protect these precious resources. CARE, which has worked on the Masoala peninsula for the last 10 years in a variety of environmental and development activities, is well positioned to work with local communities to manage these resources more effectively. Working closely with community leaders, mayors, regional authorities and other environmental organizations, CARE will assist communities to develop the legal framework and technical and organizational competencies to transfer the management of these resources over to them. Funded by the MacArthur Foundation ($300,000) and working closely with WCS (implementing a similar project on the other side of the peninsula) this three year project will: Establish or re-establish 11 village-level institutions for community-based management of coastal resources of the Communes of Ambohitralalana and Vinanivao; Promote inter-communal integration of community-based management plans and link with neighboring marine parks; build the capacity of individuals and institutions for community-based management through improved legal status, training, education and partnerships and develop knowledge and information systems to establish monitoring, assessment and evaluation of management impacts. This project is part of a holistic watershed approach being developed by CARE to work with communities in the forest corridors of the Masoala National Park as well as with the coastal areas dependent on the rational management of forest resources in the highlands of the watershed. In addition to the MacArthur Foundation, $50,000 has also been raised through a joint CARE/WCS fundraising held at the Bronx Zoo in 2004.
