Research, Technology and Policy Combine to Protect Madagascar’s Forests

This case study describes how the World Resources Institute (WRI) utilized the Forest Watcher app, biogeographical research, and community engagement to reduce deforestation and secure international protection for forests in Madagascar.

• The implementation of the Global Forest Watch Forest Watcher app, starting in 2019, enabled park rangers and community members to use satellite-based alerts to identify and intervene in deforestation and fire activities in near-real time. The application's use expanded from three pilot sites to 24 areas managed by Madagascar National Parks, increasing patrol efficiency and transparency. In Kirindy Mité National Park, the number of fire points decreased from 33 in 2020 to 3 in 2022 due to the app's use.
• WRI supported the designation of the Andrefana Dry Forests as a UNESCO World Heritage Site through biogeographical research, data analysis, mapping, and the authoring of the nomination dossier. This process involved collaboration with local communities, park managers, and government officials, resulting in the official designation in September 2023.
• Madagascar's forests, including 6.9 million hectares of protected areas, face threats from resource extraction, climate change, and slash-and-burn agriculture. WRI's efforts to protect these ecosystems included breaking traditional gender barriers by engaging women from local communities in forest patrolling.

APA

World Resources Institute (2024). Research, Technology and Policy Combine to Protect Madagascar’s Forests. https://www.wri.org/outcomes/research-technology-and-policy-combine-protect-madagascars-forests

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Research, Technology and Policy Combine to Protect Madagascar’s Forests. 2024. https://www.wri.org/outcomes/research-technology-and-policy-combine-protect-madagascars-forests.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Research, Technology and Policy Combine to Protect Madagascar’s Forests |date=13 February 2024 |url=https://www.wri.org/outcomes/research-technology-and-policy-combine-protect-madagascars-forests |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2024research, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Research, Technology and Policy Combine to Protect Madagascar’s Forests}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2024}, month = feb, url = {https://www.wri.org/outcomes/research-technology-and-policy-combine-protect-madagascars-forests}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }