The details

Hello all. I`m back in Toliara for a bit. I came in yesterday and I go back tomorrow. I`ve had 2 steaks and 2 ice creams and several showers with running water. Life is good.

I thought I`d use this post to explain exactly what I`m doing here since I was a little sketchy on the details before I left.

 I work for an NGO called, Reef Doctor. We are a tiny NGO that works only in the Bay of Ranobe here in Madagascar. Our main objective is to organize a community resource management scheme for the entirety of the Bay in order to preserve the reef system and therefore the lives and livelihoods of the people who leave there. The first step toward this goal was reached last year with the formalization of a traditionally protected piece of coral known as `The Rose Garden`. Reef doctor worked with the local community, local officials and the national government in order to put in place the first officially (legally) recognized community managed Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Madagascar. From here the goal is to use the legal framework already developed to create several more MPA`s in the bay as well as to set up rotational fishing areas (where fishing is closed for months at a time) in order to relieve fishing pressure on sensitive areas during breeding times.

Secondary to this main project, Reef Doctor does marine research and runs environmental education and community development programs. My primary task is to help organize the education and development programs. To this effect I will be taking over coordination responsibilities for the local women`s group that we helped organize, the sunday kids club where we teach kids about the environment and also get them out of there normal work chores for a bit of fun. Additionally, I am working to further develop the Pirougers club which is an association of local guides who take tourists out snorkeling on the reef. Also, I`m going to be working with the local primary schools to introduce a new environmental education program and also a weekly art class.

So there. That`s what I`m doing. So far I`ve found the villagers to be friendly, open to new ideas, and very receptive to our ideas. It`s going to be a busy year, but one that I know will be highly rewarding and meaningful. Life is good. 

Comments

[JRoss McSchwing]

i thought you were feverishly translating the road to serfdom into malagasy

[pbd]

Nah, thought I'd do Harry Potter first. Stuck on how exactly to translate the word Voldomort. Maybe, Socialista.