 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
In the areas where we work, all land is owned and cared for by
local families. FTF products thus do not come from plantations run
by distant landlords. Instead, the families who cultivate cloves and
vanilla have small-scale plots of land that have been part of their
family for generations.
This ownership means that farmers pride themselves on
practicing sustainable, healthy land practices. They do not use
pesticides or chemical fertilizers to cultivate cloves and vanilla.
Families assume that the land they are farming today will someday
be passed onto their children, and grandchildren.
It is a unique and admirable land ethic, that has led to Imorona
being chosen as a “Green District” by the Malagasy national park
service.
The Forest Corridor
Mananara is located within Madagascar's Northeast forest corridor.
The region supports a UNESCO biosphere reserve and marine
park, which protects some of the last remaining stretches of
primary rainforest in Madagascar. These ecosystems contain
many endangered species, including lemurs, palm trees, and
chameleons.
Madagascar itself has one of the highest concentrations of
biodiversity in the world, causing it to be considered a biological
"hotspot" among conservation biologists. Because of its unique
geography, many of Madagascar's plant and animal species are
endemic, and not found anywhere else in the world.
local families. FTF products thus do not come from plantations run
by distant landlords. Instead, the families who cultivate cloves and
vanilla have small-scale plots of land that have been part of their
family for generations.
This ownership means that farmers pride themselves on
practicing sustainable, healthy land practices. They do not use
pesticides or chemical fertilizers to cultivate cloves and vanilla.
Families assume that the land they are farming today will someday
be passed onto their children, and grandchildren.
It is a unique and admirable land ethic, that has led to Imorona
being chosen as a “Green District” by the Malagasy national park
service.
The Forest Corridor
Mananara is located within Madagascar's Northeast forest corridor.
The region supports a UNESCO biosphere reserve and marine
park, which protects some of the last remaining stretches of
primary rainforest in Madagascar. These ecosystems contain
many endangered species, including lemurs, palm trees, and
chameleons.
Madagascar itself has one of the highest concentrations of
biodiversity in the world, causing it to be considered a biological
"hotspot" among conservation biologists. Because of its unique
geography, many of Madagascar's plant and animal species are
endemic, and not found anywhere else in the world.
Environmental Stewardship
The communities we work with in the Mananara area
cultivate their vanilla, cloves, coffee, rice, and fruit trees in
fields combining forest systems and agriculture. They have
been cultivating these crops for over three generations,
and are committed to long-term land stewardship.
Vanilla grows with the forest. The orchids require a precise
mixture of sun and shade, and are therefore cultivated
along with shade trees, fruit trees, and native hardwood
species. Growers are also increasingly using leguminous
tutor trees for the vanilla vines. These trees both improve
soil quality and provide nutrients for the vanilla plants.
The communities we work with in the Mananara area
cultivate their vanilla, cloves, coffee, rice, and fruit trees in
fields combining forest systems and agriculture. They have
been cultivating these crops for over three generations,
and are committed to long-term land stewardship.
Vanilla grows with the forest. The orchids require a precise
mixture of sun and shade, and are therefore cultivated
along with shade trees, fruit trees, and native hardwood
species. Growers are also increasingly using leguminous
tutor trees for the vanilla vines. These trees both improve
soil quality and provide nutrients for the vanilla plants.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Copyright 2007, From the Field, Inc.
| Tending vanilla vines |
| The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve |
| Park guides in training at the Marine Reserve |
| A handsome frog |
| A Ravinala tree overlooking the Nosy Antafana marine reserve |
| From the Field Trading Company |
| Fair trade products of Madagascar |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |