Planting of mangrove trees by students from nearby schools ©Eau de Coco
Tulear, Madagascar, August 2022
Since September 2021, A Tree for You has been working with the association Eau de Coco and Kinomé to restore natural resources on the Malagasy coast and tackle food insecurity by introducing 7,200 sustainable mangrove trees.
This project has a strong educational component since students from the surrounding schools can take part in a planting day, as well as gaining awareness of environmental issues throughout the school year.
During the 2021/2022 school year, Malagasy schoolchildren participated in planting 4,000 propagules or seedlings of five different mangrove species in western Madagascar.
In November 2021, the first of the propagules – red, yellow and orange mangroves – were planted. They were collected by the technical teams directly from mangroves already restored then planted. For this occasion, a first planting day with the students was organised.
Students taking part in the planting day – red, yellow and orange mangrove propagules – in November 2021 ©Eau de Coco
In May 2022, a second batch of the young mangrove trees – grey or flowering – was planted. Their seeds were collected and potted in nurseries near the mangrove. Six months after germinating, the young trees were distributed to the students for planting. A second planting day with the students was then organised.
Students from surrounding schools during the planting day of grey or flowering mangroves ©Eau de Coco
This experience extends beyond borders since the students are sharing it with others in France involved in a similar initiative in the Wegscheid forest in the Vosges. By mail then videoconference, these young citizens of the world are sharing information about their actions, forests, and the environmental problems they are encountering. The teachers, also trained as part of the project, are helping their students gain awareness.
Planting day with students and local communities ©Eau de Coco
After these plantation days, A Tree for You and its partners then started observing and monitoring the young trees. At the end of the first year, the survival rate was over 97%, proof that our young friends have green fingers!
During the 2022/2023 school year, other Malagasy students will take part in planting the remaining 4000 mangrove trees and exchange with their French correspondents.
We’re looking forward to next year!
