Long-term Fire Management to Protect Beanka Protected Area in Madagascar

Address the main threat to Beanka Forest—unmanaged fires, mostly lit for agricultural and grazing purposes—through an integrated approach. Train local fire management associations, create alternative livelihood options to reduce pressure on the forest and replant fire-resistant species in buffer zones of the protected area. The project will include a pilot study to investigate whether the re-introduction of giant tortoises could restore ecological processes (grazing and seed dispersal) and reduce the frequency and intensity of grassland fires to achieve long-term, low-maintenance and low-cost approaches to landscape management.