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Exceptional Biodiversity
Ambatovy has made every effort to preserve the flora and fauna of the eastern forest and the Torotorofotsy Wetlands, which have
been listed as a Ramsar site since 2005. Experts agree on the exceptionally rich biodiversity of this region. Ambatovy’s Environment
Team did not only work on the survival of the species, the majority of which are endemic, but also helped discover new species.
This forest is under threat. Slash and burn agriculture is widely practiced on the east coast. This cultural practice is not bad in itself,
even though the yield is very low. It only becomes detrimental when population density no longer allows enough time for the regrowth
of the vegetation.
In sparsely populated areas, the rotation period before returning to the same burned plot is 30 years or more. Multiple awareness
campaigns however, do not seem to stop the spread of
tavy
(see explanation of Tavy).
Deforestation is highly visible along the national
road, RN 2, and is increasing at an alarming rate. In less than 20 years, the
savoka
with ravenala
(Ravenala madagascariensis)
and the
volo
bamboo, have replaced entire sections of the forest. More commonly known as slash and burn agriculture,
tavy
has contributed,
in a large part, to deforestation. The most common landscape is now
savoka
, a succession of grassy hills dotted with ravenala
(Ravenala madagascariensis)
, and small sporadic formations of raffia
(Raphia ruffia)
and bamboo.
Tavy is defined as slash and burn agriculture. This practice is carried out
by farmers in the eastern region, significantly contributing to deforestation.
In other regions of the world, with low population density, tavy helps
regenerate the vegetation if the climate is favourable, but that is not the
case for Madagascar. Tavy is part of the traditional heritage. The population
is committed to respecting a series of rituals. Family events cannot happen
without rice cultivated on the tavy, with its particular virtues. This agricultural
practice dates back from the time of the early settlers; one of the first written
descriptions is by Flacourt in 1651.
The people plant rice after cutting and burning wood, which is mostly hollow
bamboo known as Voulou. Since the wood is dry, the burning process is very
noisy. After the wood is burned, the ashes are soaked by the rain. They then
sow the rice. All the women and girls from the village take part in planting each
person’s rice. They walk abreast with a sharp stick in their hand; they make
a hole in the ground with the stick and throw two grains of rice in the hole,
filling in the hole with their feet. While doing this, the women and girls sing and
dance.
When the wood has been cut and burned and the field is closed, the women
take charge. They help each other by hand-weeding the fields and harvesting
the crops. The men leave to work on another plot
(Flacourt in Allibert,
1995:129).
Flacourt’s description also indicates that even in the 17th century, there was
nothing but bamboo to burn in this region. The original forest has long since
disappeared.
Ta v y
