Madagascans are dune it for themselves to fight climate change

Fields, homes, wells and tombs were gradually being buried under shifting sand dunes on this windswept stretch of Madagascar’s southern coastline until the local community fought back, armed only with plants and elbow grease.

After years of painstaking planting by hundreds of volunteers, 36 hectares of dunes have been stabilised by long lines of plants that trap moisture in the ground and stop the relentless wind from blowing the sand further inland.

The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) provided most of the plants as part of a project to help local communities build long-term resilience to weather-induced problems.

“The system came from the villagers themselves. It wasn’t us that brought this technique. They know that the lalanda plant covers the ground and brings moisture,” said Theodore Mbainassem, who runs WFP operations in the area.

In addition to the lalandas, the agency contributed filao, which grow up to 1.9m, and sisal plants, species that do well in arid conditions. Sisal can be used to make ropes, carpets and roofing, providing a source of income to the community.

In addition to the lalandas, the UN agency contributed filao and sisal plants, species that do well in arid conditions. Sisal can be used to make ropes, carpets and roofing, providing a source of income to the community.

The world’s fourth largest island and one of its most diverse ecosystems, with thousands of endemic species of plants and animals, Madagascar projects the image of a lush natural paradise. But the reality in its southern regions is different.

The build-up of sand dunes started becoming a problem in the area about a decade ago due to droughts and an increase in strong winds, partly linked to the El Niño climate pattern, and climate scientists warn things will get worse.

Madagascar, with a population of 30-million and great natural variability in its weather patterns, faces increased aridity, more frequent droughts and extreme weather events in future, according to the UN’s expert climate panel.

Faux Cap is part of the southern Androy region, where a shortage of food caused by four years of drought has made more than a million people dependent on aid from the WFP.

But while emergency food parcels play a vital role in helping the population get through the current crisis, Mbainassem said it was crucial for communities to plan for the future and find ways to build resilience.

At Faux Cap, the efforts of the local community are already being rewarded, he said, citing the income from sisal plants, protection of wells and fields that were at risk of disappearing under the sand, and preservation of tombs, which are an important focus of many cultural traditions. 

— Reuters