U.S. Forest Service Project

April 2004 - April 2005

Please note that this is a closed, archived program.

As part of the management of the Eco-Regional Transitional Program conducted during a programmatic transition period for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Madagascar, Pact Madagascar was chosen by the International Program (IP) of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to act as their implementing partner. IP is charged with coordinating and implementing USFS forest management activities outside of the United States. One of their major objectives is to share and disseminate USFS experience and best practices in the US with other government agencies working on forest management all over the world, and particularly in developing countries, in collaboration with USAID. USFS/IP, working in close collaboration with USAID/Madagascar, has intervened in several issues related to the forest sector in Madagascar since 2001.

As USFS does not currently have a permanent presence in Madagascar, Pact Madagascar was identified by USFS and USAID as the most appropriate organization to play the role of the USFS implementing partner in Madagascar during the project period. Pact Madagascar has several years experience working with the forest sector and USAID in Madagascar and would ensure the continued support of USFS services to the Malagasy Directorate of Water and Forests (DGEF).

The Eco-Regional Transitional Program was awarded by USAID to Chemonics in partnership with Pact Madagascar for the management of USAID support to natural resources management during a period of transition. This program was organized around three major components:

• In this first component activities were centred on the development, in a participative manner, of a management plan for the two corridors of Fianarantsoa and Toamasina, and the development of alternative activities to reduce pressure on natural resources while promoting economic growth activities.
• In the second component activities focused on improvement of information management and systems for good governance, the implementation of a new permit allocation system, and support of a mining and forest dialogue platform to solve problems between these two sectors.
• Institutional development support to the MinEnvEF and community-based associations fighting against slash and burn agriculture (Koloharena).

Pact's approach

Pact Madagascar, playing the role of the principal support to USFS teams in Madagascar, worked in close collaboration and partnership with the DGEF, USAID, and IP to provide support and technical assistance. In this capacity, Pact Madagascar took on the role of facilitating technical assistance, providing follow-up, and monitoring support to the ongoing implementation of recommendations made by USFS, collaborating with DGEF on activities and the sensitization of potential partners on the various types of assistance available from USFS. Pact Madagascar also worked to identify new areas of potential collaboration between the Malagasy Forest Administration and the USFS.

Apart from technical assistance, assessments and follow up activities, Pact gave special priority to the capacity reinforcement of Malagasy forest service agents from all levels. Based on the USFS needs assessment of DGEF concerns, Pact Madagascar focused on the following components of forest and natural resource management:

• Forest strategic planning through the forest zoning process
• Forest permitting system allowance
• Forest information system
• Plantation management

Through a series of assessment visits and training workshops, Pact was able to integrate feedback from the Malagasy Forest Administration and service agents on each of these areas to produce the most effective results.

Interim results

• Produced a standardized set of terminology and methodology for the forest zoning process, incorporating feedback from a series of regional zoning workshops that has been tested and translated to Malagasy.
• Conducted capacity building and reinforcement interventions on information management and needs analysis for technical agents of DGEF to increase the effectiveness of information systems.
• Assisted with the development of a transparent system for timber harvesting permit allocation, cost determination, forest inventory, and the bidding process to be included in a procedural manual used by Malagasy Forest Administration staff.
• Facilitated the strategic planning process for effective forest resource management and zoning.
• Coordinated the implementation, follow-up and monitoring of USFS recommendations in close cooperation with the DGEF.
• Provided sensitization to in-country partners on the types of support offered by USFS, while working with DGEF and USAID to identify the types of support that the USFS can mobilize to promote sustainable forest management in Madagascar.
• Coordinated a successful exchange visit for the USFS point person in Madagascar to attend the annual International Seminar on Forest Administration and Management and undergo training on natural resources information systems.