Restoring landscapes through agroforestry
How agroforestry has helped farmers to become key drivers in landscape restoration, climate action and improved livelihoods in Madagascar.
Agroforestry system developed in the East region of Madagascar (Photo: FAO)
In eastern Madagascar, widespread land degradation and the continued use of slash-and-burn agriculture have posed significant challenges to sustainable rural livelihoods.
In response, the Confederation of Malagasy Farmers (Fivondronamben’ny Tantsaha Malagasy, Fekritama) – the largest confederation of farmers and agricultural workers in Madagascar – sought to spearhead large-scale agroforestry initiatives, promoting sustainable land management among smallholder farmers.
Forest and Farm Facility activities
Before the Forest and Farm Facility’s (FFF) support, slash-and-burn agriculture led to soil degradation and declining yields. From 2021-25, FFF provided funding, technical backstopping and capacity development for Fekritama to implement restoration actions.
The confederation, with technical and financial support from FFF, conducted training on climate-smart agriculture approaches such as agroforestry, agroecology and sustainable land management.
Farmers participated in practical workshops and field visits to pilot demonstration sites, enabling peer-to-peer learning and the replication of best practices. Regular monitoring and coaching ensured quality and sustainability.
Significance of impact
Prior to FFF support, Fekritama had no experience with forest and landscape restoration, with earlier interventions focusing on rural development without integrating climate or environmental components. FFF’s approach introduced new knowledge, tools and networks that empowered farmers to act as stewards of their landscapes.
As of 2025, Fekritama members have now restored and sustainably managed 1,050 hectares of degraded land, benefiting 650 farmers, of whom 54% are women.
Through agroforestry systems combining fruit and forest trees with food crops, farmers have shifted to practices that protect soil fertility, enhance biodiversity and increase resilience to climate shocks.
This initiative has drastically reduced the use of slash-and-burn practices. It has also improved farmers’ livelihoods through diversified production and reduced dependency on single crops.
For women and young people, agroforestry systems have also reduced wasted time spent collecting fuelwood; cinnamon trees now provide wood residues that serve as cooking fuel, saving hours of daily labour.
Conclusion
The initiative has transformed degraded lands into productive and sustainable systems. It has strengthened community resilience, gender inclusion and sustainable land management – proving smallholders can be key drivers of landscape restoration and climate action when adequately supported.
Further reading
Enhancing agrobiodiversity in smallholder agroforestry systems in Madagascar, Edena Andrianaivolala (2023), project report