The government of Madagascar granted permanent protection to 27 protected areas, including the country’s first three community-led marine protected areas. The three marine parks total more than 1,200 square miles in size and are located along the west coast of Madagascar in what is known as the Mozambique Channel, home to the world’s second-most diverse coral population. Establishing these parks protects reefs, mangrove habitats, marine mammals, sea turtles, whale sharks, and manta rays, and protects biodiversity that supports more than 100,000 artisanal fishermen who rely on the ecosystem for food and revenue. The MacArthur-supported Wildlife Conservation Society assisted Madagascar in the creation of the protected zones.
