Participatory Erosion Control Program (PLAE) V2 and VI

Detailed description of project:

Forest degradation and deforestation due to intensive and unsustainable exploitation of natural resources are negatively affecting Madagascar's economy and ecology. Irregular and less predictable rainfall patterns combined with more frequent torrential rains increase the pressure on the already fragile farming systems. Results are soil erosion, loss of valuable agricultural land and decreased agricultural production. The loss of productive land and forests is currently outpacing land restoration. Unclear land rights exacerbate the situation. Also at risk are the country's protected areas, which are precious reservoirs for Madagascar's endemic flora and fauna.

In this context, KfW has been co-financing the Programme for the Prevention of Erosion (PLAE) since 1998, which aims at the protection and the sustainable management of the natural resources in Madagascar. The current Phase V2 and VI will be implemented under the lead of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock between 2022 to 2027. The programme contributes to the African Forest Landscape Initiative, which is a country-led effort to bring 100 million hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes in Africa into restoration by 2030.

Overall objective of the German-Malagasy Cooperation Programme: The protection, sustainable and climate-resilient use of natural resources is expanding.

Specific objective of PLAE V2 and VI: In the intervention areas, sustainable land management contributes to the AFR100 / Restoration of Landscapes and Forests (RPF) initiative and to sustainable wood production.

The intended impacts of the project are to contribute in a sustainable way:

  • To the transformation of the rural landscape and the revegetation of watersheds
  • To create a landscape mosaic with sustainable human and environmental benefits that improve the well-being of communities and have a positive impact on biodiversity, water regimes and ecosystem services
  • To a better integration of state partners, the private sector, NGOs, and research, in order to develop different strategies for involving these partners in landscape and forest restoration.

KfW supports Phase V2 and VI of PLAE with a financial contribution of EUR 15 million.

Type of services provided:

AHT assists the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in the implementation of Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) measures in approximately 25 selected communes on 45,000 ha. Target areas are the regions of Boeny, Betsiboka, DIANA, Haute Matsiatra, Amoron’i Mania and Ihorombe.

The main services are:

  • Technical and financial management of the entire programme, including the co-management of the disposition fund (grant);
  • Technical assistance, training, capacity building to farmers, reforestation groups, communes, NGOs and other actors relevant to the programme’s objective;
  • Provision of incentives for farm inputs, seeds, forest seedlings, fertilizer, tree nurseries, mechanical soil preparation, fire prevention and fire management;
  • Support to farmer groups in the establishment of individual plantations for firewood on degraded land (6,950 ha);
  • Establishment of communal forests (7,550 ha), development of communal forest management plans, and capacity building for communal forest management;
  • Conservation of natural forest remnants (7,900 ha) through assisted natural regeneration;
  • Introduction of agroforestry methods and anti-erosion measures in existing agricultural farming areas (8,250 ha) and in newly opened plots (9,750 ha);
  • Improvement of grazing areas and fodder production for sustainable livestock production (5,150 ha);
  • Securing land tenure of developed plots (80%) through land titles and certificates;
  • Cooperation with private enterprises, NGOs and Madagascar National Parks (MNP) for reforestation;
  • Development of mechanisms and partnership for the sustainable management of forests and plantations (payment for ecosystem services, financing through CO² trading, etc.).
Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MINAE)
BMZ through KfW
11/2022 - 10/2027
Contract value:
2,899,315 €