Project
Antsanitia Coastal Restoration and Ecolodge Project

The Antsanitia Coastal Restoration and Ecolodge Project (ACREP) is located in the Boeny region of Madagascar, near the city of Mahajanga. In collaboration with Red Island Restoration (RIR), ARC is leading a small-scale landscape restoration project focused on reforesting and conserving a diverse range of coastal ecosystems. The primary reforestation efforts will target the mangrove and adjacent dry forest areas. In partnership with the local communities, RIR will work to build up the environment and the people that depend on it.

The forest systems within the project include areas with differing levels of forest health, with some areas being heavily degraded while others remain healthy. The project team will focus on filling in degraded areas, increasing species diversity throughout, connecting healthy mangrove patches, and protecting existing trees. A similar strategy will be applied to the adjacent dry forest in order to promote the recovery of this unique ecosystem.

The ACREP encompasses several vital wildlife habitats, including coastal forests, raffia swamps, mangrove estuaries, and dry forests. Many species found within and around the project area have been classified as vulnerable and/or endangered by the IUCN Red List. Among the most unique and critically endangered of these species are the Coquerel’s Sifaka lemur and Sawfish. Through the project’s restoration of wildlife habitat, our teams have already seen encouraging increases in animal populations and density within and around the project area.

In addition to direct ecological restoration and habitat rehabilitation, RIR will work closely with Antsanitia’s local Vondron’Olona Ifotony (VOI)—a recognized community-based association dedicated to the protection and management of local forests. While these efforts have traditionally been made up of volunteers, ARC supports and strengthens the initiative by providing employment opportunities to VOI members, fostering greater participation and more impactful outcomes. By empowering community members to take on leadership roles in reforestation efforts and in protecting their local forests, we acknowledge the vital relationship between people and their environment, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach. Given the project's proximity to Mahajanga, a community-driven approach is essential for alleviating human pressures on the forest and ensuring a lasting, positive impact on both the local landscapes and the communities that depend on them.