Historic Renewal of Delegation Contracts for Protected Area Management in Madagascar

Antananarivo, 19 August 2025 — After seven years of waiting, a milestone moment has finally arrived for Madagascar’s biodiversity conservation. Today, in the presence of the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Mr. Max Andonirina Fontaine, 16 managers of protected areas officially signed the long-awaited Contrats de délégation de gestion des aires protégées (Delegation Contracts for Protected Area Management).

The last contracts dated back to 2018, leaving managers without official legitimacy for years. Despite this challenge, they continued their mission to safeguard Madagascar’s unique natural heritage. The renewal of these contracts is therefore not only a legal recognition, but also a celebration of the resilience, determination, and unwavering dedication of all protected area managers across the country.

A Renewed Vision for Conservation

In his address, Minister Max Andonirina Fontaine emphasized the importance of making biodiversity management a true national priority:

“Managing our forests and natural heritage must be treated as urgent. These contracts should not be a simple copy of 2018 — they must reflect today’s realities. Our goal is for every meeting to lead to concrete results and for collaboration to be strengthened. The signing of these contracts is the fruit of our shared efforts,” he stated.

Two major innovations distinguish the 2025 contracts:

1. Harnessing Technology for Conservation

The contracts highlight technology as a powerful tool to support management:

• Drone deployment for surveillance, ecological restoration, combating illegal trafficking, and planning management strategies.

• Starlink satellite communication kits to overcome the absence of network coverage in many remote protected areas, ensuring faster communication, especially during the critical fire season.

As the Minister noted: “Do not hesitate to reach out to the Ministry if you need support. We are one team.”

2. Strengthening the Human and Social Dimension

If 10% of the contract’s new provisions focus on technology, 90% emphasize the social dimension.

• Collaboration with local communities is positioned as the cornerstone of successful conservation.

• Social efforts aim to ensure that communities living within and around protected areas are directly engaged as partners in management.

“Every organization here has valuable experience, but working hand in hand with local communities is the true solution to our shared challenges,” affirmed the Minister.

A Shared Commitment for the Future

The signing of these contracts is not an endpoint, but rather the beginning of a new chapter of collaboration. The Ministry reaffirmed its full commitment to continue working alongside all stakeholders:

• 100% support and assistance to protected area managers.

• A call for mutual trust and transparency, with managers providing direct reports to the Ministry.

• Mobilization of increased financial resources for conservation, aligned with Madagascar’s commitments to the 30x30 biodiversity target.

The Minister concluded with a message of encouragement and unity:

“Protecting Madagascar’s biodiversity is a difficult task, but we believe in you. These five-year contracts should unify all organizations managing protected areas and prepare you to take on even more sites as Madagascar expands its network of protected areas. I thank every member of your teams, visible or unseen, and urge you to demonstrate solidarity.”

Congratulations to All

GERP extends its warmest congratulations to the 16 managers of Madagascar’s protected areas for this historic achievement. Their perseverance during these seven years without contracts, and their renewed legitimacy today, are a testament to their extraordinary commitment to conservation.

This is a day of joy, pride, and renewed hope for Madagascar’s protected areas — a collective victory for nature, for communities, and for the future of our planet.