1. What are Madagascar’s top environmental priorities in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss?
Madagascar is one of the most megadiverse countries on Earth. This is largely because the island remained uninhabited for a long time, allowing unique ecosystems to evolve. Around 80% of our species exist only in Madagascar. When you travel here, it’s like visiting another planet.
Unfortunately, we face immense challenges due to climate change and human pressure on natural resources. We’re not waiting for outside help, we’re acting. We’ve launched green charcoal initiatives to reduce dependence on traditional charcoal, and we’re reforming our legal frameworks to attract green investment.
We’re promoting green transport. As we speak, the President is receiving dozens of electric buses for Antananarivo. We're also promoting ecotourism in protected areas, which creates jobs for local communities and makes it harder for traffickers to operate. It’s a win-win: sustainable income, biodiversity protection, and hard currency inflows.
We’ve taken bold political steps, including reforming carbon market regulations to ensure we attract responsible investors. It’s a daily effort to prioritize and act, but these are our main focus areas.
2. How is the government working to protect Madagascar’s unique ecosystems and endemic species?
The government leads the way, but we can’t do it alone. The most important partners are the people. Madagascar has nearly 30 million citizens, 75% of whom live in rural areas and depend directly on natural resources.
Public awareness, alternative livelihoods, and education are key. Protecting the environment improves livelihoods. Socio-economic development and environmental protection go hand in hand in Madagascar.
We also work with scientists, researchers, students, the private sector, and international partners to achieve our conservation goals.
3. What initiatives are being implemented to promote sustainable land use and combat deforestation?
Madagascar is very vulnerable to desertification. Climate change makes rainfall unpredictable, making agriculture and land use difficult. We’ve developed new methodologies for land restoration.
When the President was first elected, we aimed to reforest 40,000 hectares per year. Today, we’ve raised that to 75,000 hectares, and we achieved that last year. It's not just about numbers, we ensure we plant the right species and prioritize local community benefits.
We’ve also reformed our carbon market laws to attract global investors to support land restoration. Madagascar offers a sustainable, profitable, and large-scale model. Just two weeks ago, we validated a new legal framework, and we’re confident it will attract serious international interest.
4. How does Madagascar plan to balance environmental protection with economic development and infrastructure expansion?
In Madagascar, these goals are not contradictory, they go together. I’m the Minister of Environment, but my priority is socio-economic development. When we develop rural areas and urban centers, we reduce pressure on forests.
Deforestation is driven by the need for charcoal and agriculture. People cut forests to survive. If we provide better livelihoods and energy access, we will automatically reduce environmental degradation.
Green energy is a dream, and we’re moving toward it. But energy access must come first. If green is cheaper and feasible, we do it. Otherwise, we must be pragmatic and use what’s available while working toward sustainability.
5. What role does community engagement play in your environmental conservation strategies?
It is essential. Communities live in and around protected areas and rely on these ecosystems. If we don’t put them at the center of conservation efforts, we will fail.
We need to understand their needs. Sometimes, well-meaning projects plant trees that don’t serve local needs, like Acacia where food is needed, or fruit trees where fuel is needed. If communities aren’t involved, we lose money, time, and trust.
Successful projects are those where the local population holds the keys.
6. How is Madagascar advancing renewable energy and low-carbon development?
Our first priority is to expand energy access. Madagascar is actively involved in the World Bank’s N300 initiative. Our President was among the first to sign the accord in Tanzania earlier this year.
We are funding renewable energy projects from our national budget—not through debt. This year, we’ve validated a 50 MW increase, to be realized by 2026. Two large hydropower dam projects are also underway.
We’re finishing our first wind farm in the southeast. Across the island, we have solar, wind, and hydro potential. Our goal is to optimize them all.
But we need to be realistic, until we can reach full green energy coverage, we will use other sources, including fossil fuels. As Minister of Environment, it pains me, but we must be pragmatic.
7. Could you elaborate more on Madagascar’s ecotourism strategy and its link to green investment?
Nearly all of our tourists, 99%, come for nature. Lemurs, baobabs, pristine landscapes. Ecotourism is a pillar of our strategy.
We’ve recently unlocked a long-delayed project offering long-term ecotourism concessions in six of our most beautiful protected areas, managed in partnership with Madagascar National Parks. These pilot projects emphasize responsible infrastructure, community benefits, and environmental standards. If successful, we’ll scale it up nationwide.
On green investment, Madagascar has fertile land and favorable climates. We are the world’s largest vanilla producer, and we have world-class cocoa and clove (girofle) production. These sectors are ripe for green investment, agroforestry, processing, and sustainable agribusiness.
We also want to lead in nature-based solutions, with carbon markets playing a central role. It’s a way to preserve the environment, create jobs, attract capital, and stabilize our economy.
8. How is the Ministry collaborating with international organizations and development partners on sustainability goals?
The global crisis cannot be solved alone. Just last week, we were in Nice for the UN Ocean Conference with a strong delegation. Madagascar is committed to multilateral collaboration and global dialogue on sustainability.
9. What message would you like to share with investors and environmental leaders in the Gulf region who are considering partnerships with Madagascar?
I would say: don't wait for the perfect moment, focus on the momentum. Progress comes from action, not hesitation. Right now, Madagascar is making greater efforts than ever to create a legal and regulatory framework that is genuinely attractive to investors, especially those focused on sustainability and green growth.
We believe that in the next five years at most, Madagascar will emerge as a leading African hub for nature-based solutions and climate-related investments. The foundations are being laid today, and this is the moment to get involved.
So to all potential investors, including general investors, but especially green investors, we warmly welcome your interest and partnership. Madagascar is ready, and the opportunities are real.
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