SEPALI Madagascar
works closely with farmers,to identify
develop and
implement new ways of income generation. Our mission is to protect
areas
of high conservation value
by linking the economic livelihoods of poor rural farmers to
environmental
preservation.
To do this, SEPALI has identified multiple species of native, silk
moths that produce
commercially viable silks, and we have designed techniques for
intercropping the
moths endemic, host plants in gardens, border forests and abandoned
pastures.
Farmers who plant 200 trees in which to rear larvae can increase their
average
income by 30% after two years.
When
other members of the farmers
family
participate in product finishing, income gains will increase between
40-60%.
We are
currently
working with farmers and communities who have been
economically displaced from the Makira protected area in North-Eastern
Madagascar.
Our approach conserves habitat while at the same time providing a vital source of income for the local community.
This project is the first, empirical test of the ability of small-scale enterprises to contribute both to environmental goals and to poverty alleviation.
