August marked the restart of nursery operations in Ampijoroa, as teams prepared the foundation for the next cycle of forest restoration in Ankarafantsika National Park. Rather than producing seedlings this month, the focus was on rebuilding the nursery itself — ensuring it is ready to support thousands of young trees in the months ahead.

This work is a collaborative effort between the Accelerated Restoration Collaborative and Red Island Restoration, merging scientific best practices with community-led action to ensure every stage of restoration is grounded in both ecological knowledge and local stewardship.

Nursery beds that had decayed over the past year were repaired or replaced, using bamboo and other locally and ethically sourced woods for the frames. Composting piles were rebuilt to generate nutrient-rich soils that will strengthen seedling growth once germination begins. Palm fronds were layered across beds to create natural shade, avoiding the need for plastic nets and keeping plastic use to an absolute minimum — limited only to the polypot bags needed to raise seedlings.

Several germination strategies were prepared for the coming season, including traditional seed beds and direct sowing into polypot bags, depending on the requirements of each species. These approaches ensure strong root systems and healthy growth before seedlings are transferred to the field.

The Red Island Restoration team at Ampijoroa works full time to maintain and protect the nursery. Their dedication extends beyond daily tasks — they guard the nursery and plantations alike, driven by a commitment to see their forests restored. During recent visits, the team voiced their need for greater infrastructure to support these efforts, a reminder that lasting restoration is only possible when supporters invest in the resources communities require.

See more about the journey from seed to forest on Explorer.Land and learn about ARC’s mission at www.arcrestoration.org.