Enviro News Asia, Eastern Madagascar — A flagship agricultural resilience initiative financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has significantly increased crop production while reducing deforestation in Madagascar, according to a new impact evaluation report.
The USD 16 million project, titled “Sustainable Landscapes in Eastern Madagascar,” supported more than 24,000 smallholder households across the Ankeniheny-Zahamena and Ambositra-Vondrozo forest corridors—two of the island’s most ecologically critical humid forest regions. The initiative introduced climate-smart agriculture techniques, distributed improved seeds and equipment, promoted agroforestry, strengthened forest patrols, and advanced forest restoration efforts.
The evaluation, conducted by Conservation International in partnership with the GCF’s Independent Evaluation Unit, tracked outcomes from 2018 to 2025 and surveyed more than 1,600 smallholder farmers. Researchers compared participating farms with similar non-project farms to measure direct impact.
Key Findings
The report presents strong evidence of measurable improvements among participating communities:
- 32 percent higher crop sales, driven by diversification into higher-value crops
- Significant production increases in groundnuts (up 565 percent) and Bambara peas (up 196 percent)
- 13 percent greater crop diversity, enhancing long-term climate resilience
- 30 percent increase in self-consumed food production, suggesting improved food security
- Sharp reduction in deforestation rates, from 3.2 percent to 0.8 percent during the project period
- Decline in environmentally harmful supplementary activities such as charcoal production and mining
Catherine Koffman, GCF Director for the Africa Region, stated that the project demonstrates how climate-smart agriculture can simultaneously strengthen livelihoods and protect forests. By boosting food security and incomes, communities are better equipped to adapt to climate change while reducing pressure on surrounding ecosystems.
Andreas Reumann, Head of the GCF’s Independent Evaluation Unit, emphasized that the findings provide credible evidence of sustained impact and offer insights for designing future climate finance investments in sustainable landscapes.
Daniela Raik, Executive Vice President and Chief Conservation Officer at Conservation International, noted that food insecurity has historically driven deforestation in eastern Madagascar, as farmers cleared forest land in search of fertile soil. The evaluation shows that agricultural productivity and forest conservation can advance together rather than compete.
Madagascar remains highly vulnerable to climate change due to its geographic exposure and limited adaptive capacity. In 2021, the United Nations warned that the country could face the world’s first famine primarily driven by climate change. Strengthening forest cover is considered a critical natural climate solution for the island nation as it confronts rising temperatures and environmental stress.
While improvements in long-term outcomes—such as sustained adoption of sustainable farming practices and enhanced climate resilience—are still emerging, the report highlights promising trends. It underscores the importance of continued support for farming communities to consolidate gains and reinforce enabling conditions for sustainable development. (*)
