Launched on 8 June last by the Maison du Monde Foundation, the round-up operation to support communities on the island of Sainte-Marie in their efforts to preserve forests ended in late August.
More than 750,000 people contributed to the operation via which customers could donate their change in all Maisons du Monde stores from 8 June to 24 August. This was a record in terms of participation, which enabled GRET to collect just over 100,000 euros, all of which will be paid to our project preserving forests on the island of Sainte-Marie, in Madagascar.
The entire GRET team and local communities, who are playing a major role in the success of this project, wish to thank all those who contributed for their act of solidarity, as well as the Maisons du Monde team for the support provided during this operation. Thanks to the donations received, we will be able to:
- continue ensuring the protection and restoration of forests on the island by organising regular village surveillance patrols, with the help of State services. Several times a month, patrols – mainly carried out by women – cover 350 hectares of forest to oppose trafficking;
- improve living conditions for residents on the island, by creating new jobs and developing alternative economic activities (agroecology, reforestation nurseries, etc.);
- continue our efforts to obtain the creation of a protected land and marine area, which ultimately will be managed by local communities themselves.
Given the economic and environmental impacts of the health crisis in Sainte-Marie, part of the money collected will also be used to strengthen our actions on environmental awareness and prevention of crimes against the environment.
