Presentation short abstract

Forest restoration in Madagascar often fails due to limited understanding of local priorities. Participatory mapping shows deforestation is driven by land scarcity and tenure issues, while communities envision especially ecological restoration, that supports livelihoods and strengthens land rights.

Presentation long abstract

Forest landscape restoration aims to mitigate climate change, restore ecological functions, and enhance human wellbeing across degraded tropical landscapes. While many countries have made ambitious restoration commitments, most initiatives fall short of achieving these multiple goals. Efforts remain dominated by fast-growing exotic tree plantations, with limited progress on restoring native species. A key challenge lies in understanding the socio-ecological context; why forests were cleared, and what local communities actually need and value. To address this, we conducted 45 participatory mapping sessions with 450 households across three regions representing Madagascar’s major forest biomes.

Participants mapped land use and land cover over four time periods: the past decade, the present, and two 10-year projections — one under a business-as-usual scenario and another reflecting desired future landscapes. Our findings reveal three key insights. First, taking stock of change shows that forest loss is primarily driven by the conversion of forests to agriculture and the pursuit of new private landholdings under customary tenure, and migration issue limiting natural regeneration. Second, under current trajectories, continued land scarcity, low agricultural productivity, and limited livelihood diversification are likely to further constrain support for native-tree restoration. Third, communities envision futures where restoration promotes sustainable land uses, including mixed cropping systems, woodlots, and explicit recognition of local land rights, even in the absence of formal titles. To achieve sustainable and equitable restoration, initiatives must align global restoration goals with local priorities, and overcome the social and institutional barriers that currently discourage community-led native-tree restoration.