Save the ICCA of Sakatia in Madagascar against land grabbing

A statement by the Fokonolona guardians of the Indigenous Community Conserved Area (ICCA) on Sakatia island, Madagascar, opposing a land grabbing project by the company GREEN MADA LAND to build a hotel complex.

• The Fokonolona community of Sakatia island opposes a project by the company GREEN MADA LAND to build a hotel complex on a 17-hectare plot of land. The community asserts that this project threatens biodiversity, their livelihoods, and their human rights, specifically noting that the site includes rice fields essential for survival and a turtle nesting area maintained by locals.
• The community's management of Sakatia's natural resources is legally recognized via a management transfer contract (no. 663/22-MEDD/SG/DREDD.DIANA) with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. The area is also recognized as an Indigenous Community Conserved Area (ICCA).
• There are disputes regarding the legality of the land lease. While a ministerial decision (Arrêté n°27 227/2019-MAHTP du 29 Novembre 2019) was previously adopted to cancel a lease described as 'dubiously obtained', the community reports that a lease remains in operation. A previous lease involved renting 17 hectares for approximately 0.20 euro (100 Ariary) per square meter, with an option for a definitive sales contract.
• The Fokonolona are calling for several actions from authorities, including the cancellation of GREEN MADA LAND's lease, transparency regarding lease information, and the recognition of land ownership rights and 'free prior informed consent' (teny ierana). They also urge the acceleration of draft bills concerning community land and land with specific status.

APA

Nyobe, E. N. (2023). Save the ICCA of Sakatia in Madagascar against land grabbing. Natural Justice. https://naturaljustice.org/save-the-icca-of-sakatia-in-madagascar-against-land-grabbing/

Chicago

Nyobe, Eliane Ngo. Save the ICCA of Sakatia in Madagascar against land grabbing. Natural Justice, 2023. https://naturaljustice.org/save-the-icca-of-sakatia-in-madagascar-against-land-grabbing/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Nyobe |first1=Eliane Ngo |title=Save the ICCA of Sakatia in Madagascar against land grabbing |publisher=Natural Justice |date=30 October 2023 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/save-the-icca-of-sakatia-in-madagascar-against-land-grabbing/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{nyobe2023save, author = {Nyobe, Eliane Ngo}, title = {{Save the ICCA of Sakatia in Madagascar against land grabbing}}, publisher = {Natural Justice}, year = {2023}, month = oct, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/save-the-icca-of-sakatia-in-madagascar-against-land-grabbing/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }