Building Cyclone-Proof Nurseries In Madagascar

Situated in the southwestern Indian Ocean Basin, the island of Madagascar is the fourth most climate-vulnerable country in the world. Between 2000–2023, 47 tropical storms and cyclones ravaged Madagascar, severely damaging the country's infrastructure, economy, and food. In fact, over the five years between 2018 and 2023, Malagasy farmers experienced increasingly severe weather, including some of the most prolonged droughts and strongest cyclones on record.

Working with rainforest communities in Madagascar since 2019, Health In Harmony listens to local communities’ needs and key solutions for human well-being and planetary health, working alongside communities to make those solutions a reality. In Madagascar, livelihood support, food security, and healthcare provision are all key focuses – especially due to the effects of cyclones, which disrupt livelihoods and access to food and healthcare.

Across the districts of Manombo and Ikongo, Health In Harmony has worked with communities to build seedling nurseries, whereby seedlings from the forest floor are gathered, planted and nurtured, with up to 10,000 seedlings planted in each nursery. Once the seedlings have grown, these can be used by community members for agroforestry, as payment for healthcare, and in reforestation efforts.

These nurseries were previously built of wood or timber, but local communities found that cyclones were damaging the nurseries, particularly in 2023 when three cyclones hit Madagascar. Communities voiced a need to build cyclone-resilient nurseries, and have subsequently worked with Health In Harmony to design and implement these new, sturdier structures.

So, what does a cyclone-proof nursery look like? A strong foundation is essential, with structural poles now embedded five-meters deep into the earth, and secured with cement. While more expensive in the short term, communities are now transitioning to use iron or PVC pipes filled with cement for a durable and sturdy framework that lasts, as is therefore more cost-effective long term, as well as reducing logging due to the constant need to repair the timber structures of the older model. 

To safeguard the nursery from potential threats such as wild animals and unauthorized access, a protective fence is installed around the perimeter of the nursery. This ensures the security of the seedlings and prevents theft or damage. Then, to regulate sunlight exposure and protect young seedlings, a UV-treated cloth cover is installed on the nursery’s rooftop, filtering up to 70% of sunlight while allowing 30% to pass through. This controlled shading is essential, as most seedlings require limited sunlight during their early growth stages.

Within the nursery, dedicated seedling beds are established to organize and nurture the seedlings effectively. Nursery managers also keep a close eye on the seedlings, filling out records on how many species are planted, effective maintenance techniques, growth, and most importantly, survival rates, to optimize seedling survival long term.

With carbon emissions from deforestation driving global climate change, which in turn hits low-income communities in climate-vulnerable countries the hardest, cyclone-resilient nurseries are a critical solution to food security, accessible healthcare through non-cash payments, and reforestation efforts. 

In 2024, four existing nurseries were reconstructed to boost their resilience and new cyclone-proof nurseries built. The next step is to cyclone-proof more existing timber nurseries in order to reach  31 nurseries throughout 31 communities in Manombo, as well as 3 large nurseries in Ikongo, each serving two to three communities.

To support the building of cyclone–proof nurseries, visit our donation page.