Wednesday 14 July 2010 Section: Commercial printing

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As born within the Koinonia Madagascar Association, Voiala works with the inhabitants of Sahavondronina, a village on the border of Ranomafana National Park, to work sustainably with the forest. Project Voiala sets out to protect the rain forest, fight rural poverty and support training and research into the forest.

Madagascar, one of the most important regions on earth for biodiversity, faces a serious environmental crisis with just 22% of the island still forested. To protect the remaining forest and restore degraded areas, Madagascar has turned to the private and NGO sector for expertise in environmental protection. In 2008 the management of 2,077 hectares was transferred to the people of Sahavondronina’s.

Project Voiala works in 4 broad areas:

- Assistance for communitarians development, such as microcredit for purchasing agricultural material and training in agriculture;
- Implementation of social infrastructures, such as the market for local products’ sale;
- Environmental and forestry training;
- Administrative and governance supporting to the rural organisation.

Overriding all Voiala drives the conservation and regeneration of native flora and fauna species in the area, including many medicinal plants, which represent 90% of Madagascar’s native species.

Voiala also supports research, encouraging students from national and foreign universities, among which the University of Padova. The results of the studies carried out by such students have already been applied to support the project. This year 8 students-researchers will be hosted.

Favini’s CEO Andrea Nappa said: “Voiala is an extremely important project. From an environmental viewpoint, it is aimed at the regeneration of the forests in the Country; at a socio-economic level, its goal is to achieve the economic development of local communities. Therefore, this project reflects our deepest values, embracing work, constant research and total respect towards the environment and the individual”.

Koinonia Madagascar
This is a Malagasy association; its Greek name means “community”. Created in 2005, it is a partner of Italian non-profit organisation Averiko and follows various projects in Madagascar, among which Voiala.

Averiko (“giving back” in Malagasy)
Italian partner of Koinonia Madagascar, this non-profit organisation was founded in 2005 with the ambition to restore the forest and to create a sustainable way of life; through small steps, it supports grass roots projects, based on the needs of the local people and associations, such as Koinonia Madagascar, its Malagasy partner.

Favini Srl
Favini is a specialist paper manufacturer with a history of over 100 years. It is a world leader in industrial release paper and has a strong market position in speciality fine paper with innovative and exclusive products for the fashion and luxury goods industry.

Favini has two mills in Italy (in Rossano Veneto, Vicenza and Crusinallo, Verbania), operating in the specialty fine paper and industrial release paper markets, plus a converting plant producing office and school articles. The two mills employ about 480 people.

Madagascar
Madagascar has one of the highest rankings of flora and fauna biodiversity richness in the world: 85% of the flora, 39% of the birds and 91% of reptiles and amphibians and 100% of the lemurs are unique (MAP 2007). Deforestation, livestock and agriculture, has caused an annual 100,000-hectare forest loss. The National Ranomafana Park, is the only one of its kind and covers 41,600-hectares. The Sahavondronina village, on the park’s border, is located in a 2,077-hectare area, characterised by primary and secondary forests and savannah. A population of around 700 people live in the village; their main income sources are agriculture, craft, fish farming and bee keeping. In the village area there are 107 native wood plants, as well as different medicinal plants, orchids, shrubs and ferns. As for the fauna, over 7 species of lemurs and about 30 species of birds live in the area.