Madagascar,Sainte-Marie Island : a citizen mobilization at the heart of the protection of the island

On the island of Sainte-Marie, in Madagascar, the involvement of local communities has made it possible to lay the foundations for a marine and terrestrial protected area of 265 000 hectares. Since 2015, GRET and the local association Platform for consultation and support for sustainable development of the Île de Sainte-Marie (PCADDISM) have been supporting this collective dynamic. Today, this mobilization is taking a major step: the Marine and Terrestrial Protected Area (AMTP) Sorkay is officially placed under temporary protection. There, the protection of biodiversity takes on another face.

The project is based on two fundamental principles: citizen mobilization and shared governance. Public consultations were held in the 17 fokontany[1] and among the various actors of the development of Sainte-Marie.

This mobilization is now bearing fruit. The governance scheme of the protected area has been validated, with a central place given to the local governance of resources and the involvement of fokontany. The approximately 30 000 people living on the island, represented by PCADDISM, as well as the technical services, the authorities and the elected representatives and the private sector, are represented in the bodies that participate in the definition of the geographical delimitation and the rules of management of the protected area. These actors are also trained in the governance and management of protected areas.

On February 5, 2026, a new stage was reached with the signing of the temporary protection order of the AMTP Sorkay. This decision places under protection 265 000 hectares including marine areas, mangroves, coral reefs and forests. It thus provides a formal framework for local rules for the management of natural resources and paves the way for the final recognition of the protected area.