Community rangers engaged to conserve mangroves

Today, October 2nd, we are celebrating the International Habitat Day. Within the WWF, we would like to pay tribute to all those who contribute in their daily lives to preserve the flora and fauna of these habitats and to the well-being of the population. Let us pay tribute today to our courageous mangrove rangers.

Today, October 2th, we are celebrating the International Habitat Day. Within the WWF, we would like to pay tribute to all those who contribute in their daily lives to preserve the flora and fauna of these habitats and to the well-being of the population. Let us pay tribute today to our courageous mangrove rangers.

In northwestern Madagascar, in the villages of Ambaro Bay, the "polisinala" (rangers in english) periodically patrol their mangroves to preserve this ecological habitat since 2015, with the support of WWF. These patrols demonstrate the strong commitment of the communities of Ambaro Bay to the sustainable management of mangroves.

The rangers are equipped with binoculars, mobile phones and a GPS to geo-reference their route and possibly the places of infraction. They sometimes use small boats to access remote places in mangroves. Between July and September 2017, these patrols caught four coal miners operating illegally in the mangroves and seized 68 illegally cut round timbers. The rangers also apprehended 80 wooden log of illegally cutted timber.