Madagascar, a biodiversity hotspot renowned for its unique flora and fauna, is home to the remarkable Tapia Forest. Nestled within this lush ecosystem is Feedback Madagascar’s groundbreaking initiative known as the Silk Project, which not only aims to promote sustainable development but also leverages community engagement to ensure its success.

South of the island's capital Antananarivo, in the central highlands of Madagascar, is the Tapia Forest, a distinctive ecosystem dominated by the endemic Tapia tree. This tree is not only crucial for the biodiversity of the region but also for local communities that depend on it for various resources, including traditional medicinal plants, honey, and timber. 

Project Coordinator Eugine explains, “people here have very little to live on and need the forest to survive. They cut the trees down to make charcoal or for wood. When they are short of land for farming they cut down the forest to create fields.”

Recognizing the delicate balance between conservation and community needs, the Silk Project was conceived as a sustainable development initiative that could harness the potential of the Tapia Forest. But projects like this  can only work if they have the support of local people. 

David Attenborough explains the process of cultivating silkworms to produce silk in which the local community is trained. “ First of all caterpillars of a particular moth are released into the forest.” He continues, “when they change into a cocoon they are collected. Then the silk is unwound from the cocoon and spun into a thread which is dyed and ultimately woven.”

This project has created work for all the women in the village, Marie is one of them. “Originally I worked alone, then I showed my children, now they help me. I can now afford to send them to school but they help me in the holidays and on weekends.”

Not only does the project create a sustainable income source for local communities, it simultaneously promotes the conservation of the Tapia Forest, in turn protecting the wildlife. 

David Attenborough concludes “Initiatives like this Silk Project bring hope for the future of Madagascar.”