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| Direction des Parcs Nationaux | |
|---|---|
| Name | Direction des Parcs Nationaux |
| Native name | Direction des Parcs Nationaux |
| Formation | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Antananarivo |
| Region served | Madagascar |
| Leader title | Directeur Général |
Direction des Parcs Nationaux is the national agency responsible for the administration, protection, and promotion of Madagascar's system of protected areas, including Mantadia National Park, Masoala National Park, and Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. It operates within the legal framework established by the Malagasy Republic and collaborates with international bodies such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Wide Fund for Nature, and the Global Environment Facility. The agency works alongside NGOs like Conservation International, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust to implement biodiversity protection and community-based conservation across Madagascar's unique ecoregions.
The agency traces institutional roots to pre-independence colonial conservation efforts tied to French Protectorate of Madagascar administration and post-independence reforms influenced by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Formal establishment followed policy shifts in the early 2000s after consultations with the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Madagascar), international donors including the World Bank, and technical partners such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Major milestones include the expansion of Madagascar's protected area network under the Durban Vision and designation of several parks as UNESCO World Heritage Site candidates, building on precedents like Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve.
Direction des Parcs Nationaux is structured with a central directorate in Antananarivo and regional park management units located at sites such as Ranomafana National Park, Isalo National Park, and Zahamena National Park. Governance involves oversight by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Madagascar), advisory committees with representatives from World Wide Fund for Nature, BirdLife International, and local authorities including municipal councils of Toamasina and Fianarantsoa. Legal authority derives from statutes adopted by the National Assembly (Madagascar) and implemented with support from judiciary actors in the Supreme Court of Madagascar when prosecuting wildlife crime. The agency also engages with continental mechanisms like the African Union biodiversity initiatives.
The agency's mission emphasizes protection of endemic species such as Aye-aye, Indri, and Fossa, preservation of habitats like the Madagascar Subhumid Forests and Madagascar Dry Deciduous Forests, and sustainable use of natural resources recognized by treaties including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Core functions include park management at sites like Marojejy National Park, enforcement alongside Interpol-supported networks for wildlife trafficking, ecological monitoring coordinated with Smithsonian Institution researchers, and visitor services modeled after practices at parks such as Kruger National Park and Yellowstone National Park.
Direction des Parcs Nationaux administers a portfolio that includes flagship parks: Mantadia National Park, Masoala National Park, Ranomafana National Park, Isalo National Park, Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, Ankarafantsika National Park, Zahamena National Park, Andringitra National Park, and Marojejy National Park. Each park is embedded within broader landscapes such as the Atsinanana Rainforests and the Western Madagascar Dry Deciduous Forests and is often the focus of site-level initiatives with partners like Fauna & Flora International and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Programs prioritize species recovery for taxa like Lemur catta, Propithecus verreauxi, and endemic plants cataloged in projects with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Missouri Botanical Garden. Research collaborations link universities including University of Antananarivo, Duke University, and the University of Zurich with field stations at Ranomafana and Masoala. Initiatives cover habitat restoration, invasive species control informed by studies from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, and climate resilience planning aligned with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments. Monitoring protocols often follow standards used by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and the IUCN Red List.
The agency implements co-management arrangements with local communities, traditional leaders from regions such as Sakalava and Betsileo, and civil society groups including Association Mitsinjo and Fanamby. International funding and technical assistance come from entities like the World Bank, African Development Bank, GIZ, and philanthropic organizations such as the MacArthur Foundation and the MAVA Foundation. Outreach programs connect with ecotourism operators in Nosy Be and educational exchanges with institutions like the University of Cape Town and the National Geographic Society to build local capacity.
Funding is a mix of state allocations from the Ministry of Finance and Budget (Madagascar), grants from the Global Environment Facility, loans and projects backed by the World Bank and African Development Bank, and bilateral aid from partners including Agence Française de Développement and United States Agency for International Development. Revenue streams include park entrance fees at destinations like Isalo and concession agreements with tour operators servicing Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Fiscal oversight is reported to national institutions such as the Court of Auditors (Madagascar) and influenced by donor conditionalities specified by organizations like KfW.
Category:Protected areas of Madagascar Category:Conservation organizations Category:Environment of Madagascar