In Madagascar, the establishment of a collaborative digital platform is revolutionizing the management of environmental knowledge and promoting cooperation between stakeholders engaged in environmental protection. This innovative project is supported by the Initiative for Development, Ecological Restoration and Innovation (INDRI), a center of expertise based in Madagascar.
The INDRI Initiative: a tool for centralizing environmental knowledge
The launch of INDRI Connect, a collaborative digital platform, responds to a crucial need: centralizing and sharing environmental knowledge scattered across the island. Madagascar, rich in biodiversity, is full of environmental projects, but these are often poorly coordinated, which compromises their effectiveness. INDRI, observing this fragmentation, decided to bring together crucial information on a single website in order to facilitate access to reliable and quality data.
The INDRI Connect platform already brings together nearly 300 documents, including scientific studies, technical guides, as well as the results of local initiatives. These resources are accessible to everyone: NGOs, researchers, businesses and citizens wishing to get involved in the environment. Jean-Philippe Palasi, co-founder and director of INDRI stressed that “in Madagascar, there are decades of reports and studies, but this information is scattered, making access complicated. INDRI Connect centralizes all of this to provide simple and convenient access.”
A platform to facilitate ecological protection and restoration projects
INDRI Connect is designed to meet various practical needs of environmental stakeholders, particularly those involved in actions such as reforestation. For example, users can consult guides to choose suitable plants based on soil types and regions. Jean-Philippe Palasi specifies that the platform is equipped with powerful search filters which allow you to easily navigate among documents, whether they concern terrestrial landscapes, forests, or even coastal and urban ecosystems.
In addition, the platform responds to a recurring problem: the multitude of environmental projects on the island which, often, begin without a solid foundation. “Madagascar has a large number of NGOs and associations active in the environment, but many projects start without reusing existing knowledge,” notes Jean-Philippe Palasi. INDRI Connect aims to fill this gap by providing a reliable and consolidated database, in order to maximize the chances of success of environmental projects.
An interactive map to facilitate local collaborations
An innovative feature of the INDRI Connect platform is an interactive map which lists several hundred actors engaged in environmental protection in Madagascar. Thanks to this map, users can easily locate the actors present in a specific region, know their areas of intervention and their contact details.
“Let’s imagine that a private company wants to launch into agroecology in the south of Madagascar. Thanks to the map, she will be able to quickly identify the NGOs that are active there, see the projects they are carrying out and get in touch with them to collaborate,” explained Jean-Philippe Palasi. The map represents a real accelerator of synergies, facilitating connections between local and international actors, and opening the way to new collaborations.
The commitment of all stakeholders: a collaborative platform
Another important aspect of the platform is that it allows each environmental actor to register, share their contact details and publish their work, thus creating a living and collaborative network. This democratic approach allows everyone to contribute to the richness of the platform, while promoting transparency and cooperation.
A crucial step forward for environmental protection in Madagascar
The INDRI Connect platform constitutes a major step forward for environmental protection in Madagascar. By centralizing information and facilitating collaboration, it offers local stakeholders the tools necessary to improve the effectiveness of environmental projects and strengthen the impact of their actions. Through this project, INDRI aspires to strengthen mobilization for environmental protection in Madagascar and to establish a dynamic of sustainable cooperation between all stakeholders concerned.
Moctar FICUU / VivAfrik
