By RFIPublished on 20-01-2020Modified on 20-01-2020 at 01:04

The Malagasy authorities have set themselves a target of reforestation of 60 million trees planted for the 60th anniversary of the country's independence this year. On Sunday, 1.2 million trees were planted in the Ankazobe district, 100 km north of the capital Antananarivo, during the launch day of this campaign organized by the presidency. A laudable initiative, but which nevertheless gives rise to differences.

President Andry Rajoelina, hands in the ground on the first anniversary of his inauguration. The image went around the media. 1.2 million trees planted in one day by more than 10,000 people, unheard of.

With 100,000 hectares of forest disappearing every year on the island , the head of state has made the fight against deforestation a priority - unanimously welcomed by environmental players.

But several voices question the viability of the reforestation of January 19. First questioned: the 500 hectare site, located in an area prone to bush fires each year, but also certain plants sometimes taken from nurseries in national parks with significant reforestation needs.

Another factor that can compromise the chances of success: plant trees that come from different climatic regions of this area. " The plants come from all over the country to make this site a showcase of Madagascan biodiversity ," says the Ministry of the Environment.

On its Facebook page, the social enterprise Bôndy, at the origin of this initiative to plant a million trees in one day, explains having withdrawn, " the project no longer meeting the qualitative objectives it had fixed ”. The platform for the preservation of the environment, the Voahary Gasy Alliance, supports this " unprecedented large-scale reforestation ", stressing that " the project can be consolidated little by little ".

She deplores, however, " the lack of sanctions against environmental criminals and those who burn forests ", including powerful local officials. The Ministry of the Environment specifies that several of its agents will remain on the Ankazobe district site to monitor the reforestation.

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