Tsitongambaraika forest, one of Madgascar’s few remaining stands of humid lowland forest.

Tsitongambaraika forest is one of Madgascar’s few remaining stands of humid lowland forest. This globally unique ecosystem - with 80-90 per cent of its life made up of endemic species - is under threat, ringed by villages comprising over 60,000 people and under pressure from illegal timber exploitation and encroachment by slash-and-burn agriculture. With alarming rates of deforestation in Tsitongambaraika’s 41,000 ha forest, which is home to 5 endangered species, it was declared as an Alliance for Zero Extinction site in 2016. Since the Global Environment Facility and UN Environment-supported Alliance for Zero Extinction project started its work, local communities have been educated on the value of their natural resources and alternative livelihood options, reducing pressure on the forest and opening the way to a sustainable future for both Tsitongambaraika and the region’s residents.