With the new year already underway, it feels like the right moment to highlight a standout achievement from our technical partner in Madagascar: the launch and successful implementation of LANDIBE, an ambitious program by Bôndy that is redefining how mangrove conservation, biodiversity and community livelihoods can reinforce one another in northwestern Madagascar.

Initiated early last year, LANDIBE grew from a simple but powerful insight: Madagascar’s mangrove ecosystems are deeply intertwined with the well‑being of the communities who depend on them. These ecosystems host Borocera madagascariensis, an endemic wild silkworm whose life cycle is closely linked to the health of the mangroves. To ensure that developing a wild silk value chain would support—rather than threaten—these fragile environments, Bôndy first carried out extensive studies. The findings confirmed both the ecological potential of the area and the need for a science‑based, carefully managed approach.

By the end of 2025, 60 rural women from local community associations had been trained in cocoon collection, spinning, weaving and natural dyeing. Their new skills offer a complementary livelihood opportunity while strengthening the protection of the mangroves that sustain both biodiversity and cultural heritage.

Beyond income generation, LANDIBE is revitalizing ancestral Malagasy craftsmanship, reinforcing women’s economic roles, and deepening community ownership of conservation efforts. The program stands as a compelling example of how biodiversity protection, when grounded in science and community engagement, can generate lasting social and economic resilience.