Participatory Mapping: Understanding Landscape Restoration in Madagascar

By Manoa Rajaonarivelo

Restoring Madagascar’s forests: a community perspective

Restoring forest landscapes is a crucial strategy for addressing climate change, preserving biodiversity, and supporting local livelihoods. Madagascar, home to unique ecosystems and diverse communities, has made significant commitments to restoration. However, efforts often prioritize fast-growing exotic tree species, sidelining native species that play a crucial role in ecosystem recovery.  Such practices are raising concerns about long-term ecological balance and sustainability. Understanding how local communities perceive and engage in ecological restoration efforts is essential for designing more effective and inclusive strategies.

To better understand restoration practices and local perspectives, we conducted participatory mapping sessions in three regions representing Madagascar’s major forest biomes. For each region, we conducted around 15 mapping sessions including around 8 to 10 people per mapping from 16th February to 02nd March in Anosy Region, 06th to 22nd March in SAVA Region and 26th March to 09th April in Boeny Region. These sessions provided valuable insights into land-use changes, restoration choices, and community priorities.

Engaging communities through participatory mapping

Participatory mapping is a collaborative approach that allows local communities to visually represent changes in their landscapes over time. During these sessions, community members helped map out land use and forest cover using different images to be placed into frame over four timeframes:

1. Current land use – capturing the current state of different uses of the area especially forests and agricultural areas.

2. The past 10 years – identifying historical changes and key drivers of deforestation or restoration.

3. A 10-year projection under a “business-as-usual” scenario – envisioning what might happen if current trends influencing degradation or restoration activities continue.

4. A 10-year projection based on desired restoration goals – illustrating an ideal future landscape shaped by community aspirations..

These exercises helped uncover how communities perceive forest loss, land degradation, and restoration efforts. They also highlighted the economic, social, and environmental factors influencing their restoration choices.

Looking ahead: building a sustainable restoration approach

These sessions provided an opportunity for local communities to take the lead in mapping their landscapes, sharing their deep-rooted knowledge, and discussing the future of their forests. Their engagement went beyond drawing maps—it was a profound exchange of lived experiences, memories, and aspirations for their land. They became spaces for storytelling and reflection

Elders recalled the dense forests of their childhood, while younger participants shared their hopes for a greener future. Many community members spoke of the pressures leading to deforestation while also expressing their desire to restore native forests if given the right support.

These participatory mapping sessions were so valuable to reinforce the importance of involving communities in restoration planning. It serves not only as a research tool but also as a bridge between scientific knowledge and the lived experiences of those who depend on the land.

By valuing local perspectives and working alongside communities, policymakers and conservationists can foster restoration approaches that benefits both people and nature for generations to come.