PROTOCOLE BIOCULTUREL COMMUNAUTAIRE DES COMMUNAUTES LOCALES DU FOKONTANY SAHANDRAZANA, COMMUNE RANOMAFANA, REGION VATOVAVY

The community biocultural protocol of Sahandrazana establishes a framework for the management of genetic resources and traditional knowledge in the Vatovavy region of Madagascar. It outlines the community's governance structure, the role of traditional leaders (Rois), and the specific steps external researchers or entrepreneurs must follow to obtain consent. The document emphasizes the integration of customary laws with national legislation, such as the Nagoya Protocol and Decree 2017-066, to ensure equitable benefit-sharing and the protection of biodiversity and cultural heritage.

• The protocol is designed as a guide rather than a binding contract to ensure that external actors respect the community's fundamental rights, values, and traditional practices when negotiating agreements.
• The community identifies genetic resources as components of living beings (plants, animals, etc.) used in research and production for medicine, cosmetics, and food, noting that most are located in common forests.
• Access to genetic resources is governed by strict traditional prohibitions, including 'terres interdites' (forbidden lands) where only the Rois (Kings) are permitted to perform rituals and access plants like the 'Hazomanga', considered the source of forest medicine.
• To obtain prior informed consent, external actors must follow a multi-step process: first informing government authorities (CIREF), then consulting the Chef du Fokontany and traditional authorities, and finally obtaining a collective decision through a community meeting.
• Benefit-sharing from the exploitation of resources should prioritize non-monetary advantages to avoid internal conflict, specifically targeting infrastructure for health, education, road construction, and telecommunications.
• The community faces significant challenges including land tenure conflicts due to a lack of formal titles, the impact of climate change (cyclones) on crops, and extreme isolation (enclavement) requiring a full day's walk to reach.

APA

Natural Justice (2023). PROTOCOLE BIOCULTUREL COMMUNAUTAIRE DES COMMUNAUTES LOCALES DU FOKONTANY SAHANDRAZANA, COMMUNE RANOMAFANA, REGION VATOVAVY. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Protocole-Bioculturel-Communautaire-Sahandrazana.pdf

Chicago

Natural Justice. PROTOCOLE BIOCULTUREL COMMUNAUTAIRE DES COMMUNAUTES LOCALES DU FOKONTANY SAHANDRAZANA, COMMUNE RANOMAFANA, REGION VATOVAVY. 2023. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Protocole-Bioculturel-Communautaire-Sahandrazana.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Natural Justice |title=PROTOCOLE BIOCULTUREL COMMUNAUTAIRE DES COMMUNAUTES LOCALES DU FOKONTANY SAHANDRAZANA, COMMUNE RANOMAFANA, REGION VATOVAVY |date=June 2023 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Protocole-Bioculturel-Communautaire-Sahandrazana.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{naturaljustice2023protocole, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{PROTOCOLE BIOCULTUREL COMMUNAUTAIRE DES COMMUNAUTES LOCALES DU FOKONTANY SAHANDRAZANA, COMMUNE RANOMAFANA, REGION VATOVAVY}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, year = {2023}, month = jun, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Protocole-Bioculturel-Communautaire-Sahandrazana.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }