In Ambanja, the 5th edition of the Regional Day of Grassroots Communities (JRVOI) officially kicked off under the banner of community mobilization. The first day was marked by a carnival, an official ceremony, and a conference-debate, all centered on a key message: the protection of natural resources cannot be effective without strong, organized, and fully empowered communities.
Ambanja vibrated to the rhythm of 130 grassroots communities from five districts in the Diana region. To mark the official opening, stakeholders in community-based natural resource management took to the streets of the Sambirano city in a colorful carnival. This mobilization was more than just a festive gathering; it reflected the communities’ desire to assert their role in preserving the natural heritage of the Diana region.
Forests, mangroves, water resources, land, and biodiversity are all assets upon which thousands of households directly depend. However, their preservation faces multiple pressures. In this context, the VOI (Vondron’olona Ifotony) emerge as essential actors, provided they have the necessary means, organization, and governance to fully assume this responsibility.
Following the carnival, participants gathered at the Ambanja district office for an official ceremony attended by political and administrative figures from the region. The speeches delivered converged on a single observation: sustainable natural resource management cannot be imposed from above; it must be driven by those who live in daily contact with these resources.
“The Diana region is particularly blessed by the richness and diversity of its natural resources. It is up to all of us to mobilize to protect and preserve them, so that we may pass them on to future generations,” declared Regional Chief Louis Francio Marovavy during his speech.
The role of grassroots communities is thus taking on a new dimension. VOI should no longer be seen merely as structures tasked with monitoring a forest or a natural area. They can become true partners in territorial governance, provided their capacity for action and collective responsibility is strengthened.
Captured & Published at: 2026-10-09 06:23:33 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/10/journee-de-voi-les-communautes-de-base.html