Value of useful goods and ecosystem services from Agnalavelo sacred forest and their relationships with forest conservation

Agnalavelo forest provides necessary natural resources to people who live in its surroundings (Communities of Mahaboboka, Amboronabo and Mikoboka in southwestern Madagascar). The aim of this study is to document goods and ecosystem services provided by Agnalavelo forest to local people and to use it as a tool for the identification of priorities for forest conservation. Oral interviews were undertaken from 2010–2013 with local communities living in the vicinity of Agnalavelo forest. This study also investigated forest resource use, conducted inventories of tree species, estimated wood biovolume, as well as the economic benefits associated with conservation due to carbon storage. Finally, we recorded felled trees caused by honey collection inside the forest and determine the cause for their slaughter. An investigation with the ownership of rice fields irrigated by rivers taking sources from Agnalavelo forest was also conducted. Based on field surveys and analysis, communities living around Agnalavelo forest draw substantial benefits for their daily life from the forest. Goods and ecosystem services are classified in the three categories (provisioning, cultural and regulating services) according to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA). Cultural services are highly valuable to local people as the forest is a dwelling place for their ancestor’s spirits. Agnalavelo forest provides Non Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) such as foods, tools, magic and medicinal plants and fresh water for local people. It is able to store 152 tons of carbon per hectare which is very important for climate regulation in this dry southwestern part of Madagascar. Endemic tree species hosting bee hives are often felled during harvesting period. Agnalavelo forest conservation is very important not only with regards to its biodiversity but also for goods and services that it provides to local population. Resume La foret d’Agnalavelo, sur les communes de Mahaboboka, Amboronabo et Mikoboka, au sud-ouest de Madagascar, fournit les ressources naturelles necessaires pour la population riveraine. L’objectif de cette etude a ete de documenter les biens et les services eco-systemiques fournis par la foret d’Agnalavelo pour les populations locales, afin d’identifier les priorites pour la conservation de cette foret. Des enquetes aupres des communautes vivant a proximite de la foret Agnalavelo ont ete menees, entre 2010 et 2013, sur lu0027utilisation des ressources forestieres. Des inventaires ecologiques des especes du0027arbres forestiers utilises ont ete realises pour determiner le biovolume ainsi que les benefices economiques associes a la conservation de la foret d’Agnalavelo par le stockage de carbone. Un inventaire des arbres abattus le long du0027une piste forestiere et les causes de leurs abattages ont complete l’etude, ainsi que des enquetes aupres des proprietaires des rizieres irriguees par les rivieres qui prennent leurs sources dans la foret d’Agnalavelo qui ont revele que les communautes riveraines en tirent profit dans leur quotidien. La foret d’Agnalavelo offre trois categories de biens et services eco-systemiques, a savoir les services d’approvisionnement, les services culturels et les services de regulation. Les services culturels sont les plus importants pour la population locale. La foret d’Agnalavelo fournit les produits forestiers non ligneux tels que de la nourriture, des outils, des plantes considerees comme magiques, des plantes medicinales et de lu0027eau douce pour la population locale. La foret d’Agnalavelo peut stocker 152 tonnes de carbone par hectare, valeur importante pour la regulation du climat dans cette region seche de Madagascar. Des arbres appartenant a des especes endemiques de Madagascar et abritant des ruches sont souvent abattus lors de la recolte du miel. La conservation de la foret d’Agnalavelo est importante aussi bien pour la biodiversite qu’elle heberge que pour les biens et services des ecosystemes quu0027elle fournit a la population locale.