Objectives

SuLaMa aims to explore sustainable alternatives to traditional land use techniques in a region that is characterised by strong degradation. Unsustainable land use techniques in the whole southern region of Madagascar have caused forest fragmentation, soil erosion and sedimentation in river valleys, impairing the livelihood of the local populations and leading to the destruction of a unique ecosystem.

In consideration of global change and potential transformation processes, SuLaMa focuses on approaches for sustainable land use that allow the locals to live on husbandry and agriculture, but at the same time preserve the natural ressources.

Applying a participatory approach SuLaMa recognizes the interests of local stakeholders and respects their rites, customs and habits by involving them directly in the development of  sustainable land use practices.

Through interdisciplinary research and assistance during the implementation phase, an ecologically sound, economically viable and socially balanced management plan promoting feasible and sustainable forms of land use will be developed. In this process sociological as well as economic and scientific issues are combined. The project examines the links and interactions between current forms of land use and relevant ecosystem services and functions (ESS/F).

In collaboration with the local population, SuLaMa is conducting research to answer the following questions:

• Which direct resources (e.g. wood and water resources, animals, food and medicinal plants) and indirect benefits (such as carbon storage, erosion prevention) does the ecosystem of the Mahafaly Plateau provide?
• Which forms of land use are currently practiced and which alternative sustainable land use and production techniques could replace them?
• What would be the resulting dependencies and interactions and how could they affect the ecosystem and biodiversity?