Mark Freudenberger, Chemonics International, 1133 20th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, 202-955-7565, msf@chemonics.mg

A forest corridor running the length of Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot and is critical to maintaining Madagascar’s watersheds and agricultural systems. Contraceptive prevalence rate along the corridor is 2-10%. Rising population, migration, and declining agricultural productivity all put pressure on the forest corridor. Farmers understand the importance of conservation and are anxious to support it, but family size compels them to move further into the forest. Yet they have had no way to limit family size or deal with high child mortality rates that encourage large families. The Madagascar Landscape Development Initiatives project worked with Voahary Salama – a program of NGOs, communities, government, and donors – to promote integrated population/health and environment activities along the forest corridor. Using data from community participation in health activities, population/health and environmental activities were integrated into a “Champion Communities” program. The project promoted an agricultural production package that is nutritionally and environmentally sound; water supply systems; improved food preparation; improved stoves; and provision of reproductive health services. Communities participated actively in population/health and environment activities. Health and environmental specialists working in these remote areas were trained so they are able to provide basic health and environmental information. Combining health/population and environmental activities makes sense. Health efforts help draw farmers into the health-conservation program and gives families tools to improve health and limit family size, reducing pressure on the resource base. Health education and services can be piggybacked on to conservation activities and vice versa to reduce costs.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will understand the symbiosis between resource conservation and health and how combined interventions can build on environmentally-focused networks in remote areas to improve both health and the environment.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am a long-term consultant working on this project, employed by Chemonics International.