BASKETRY IN MADAGASCAR'S PROTECTED AREAS: ISSUES AND CONSEQUENCES

The Manombo Special Reserve in south-east Madagascar is typical of zones where conflicts arise between environmental conservation and rural development. The vestigial coastal forest it contains is under constant pressure from communities in the vicinity, which, for lack of any economic alternative, are highly dependent on their immediate environment. Basketry is an important traditional activity and the stems of Lepironia mucronata (mahampy), a swamp grass of the Cyperacea family used in basketwork, are being harvested in excessive quantities. Three L. mucronata swamps were investigated for this study in order to assess the impact of basketry on the resource. Measurements of the height, diameter and density of the grass stems were used to assess the productivity of each area, and showed significant differences between the three swamps. In parallel, an indirect estimation method was developed to assess annual pressure on the swamps, expressed in terms of the number of women coming to harvest stems. This approach confirmed that the resource is being overexploited, but also enabled us to deduce the maximum number of people who can harvest stems without endangering the natural regeneration of L. mucronata. Finally, we analysed the traditional basketwork sector and its economic' impacts in the region through socio-economic surveys among households and the women selling their basketwork. The results show the essential role of their activities, which are often the only source of monetary income for many rural households.