Madagascar, a small island off the east coast of Africa, settled in the heart of the Indian Ocean, is home to an extensive range of wildlife; 90% is exclusive to their small island. Unfortunately, Madagascar has experienced a rough ride with deforestation efforts, leaving it more susceptible to natural disasters, particularly along its coastline. Where extensive forests stood, animals are now homeless, and locals are struggling to live or farm on the land. To make matters worse, the mangrove estuaries have been destroyed, and the soil has been left to drift off to sea.
Mangroves are not just your usual tree; they can survive the toughest conditions. All the while soaking up carbon and storing it away in their roots. Mangroves can absorb up to four times more carbon than average trees while protecting the coastlines from floods and storms. Madagascar mangroves are part of six main species, including Rhizophora Mucronata and Avicennia marina, which make them ideal homes for a variety of marine species. Unfortunately, 21% of mangroves were destroyed between the years 1990 and 2010, leaving Madagascar vulnerable to coastal erosion.
This is why we settled on Madagascar; every month, our incredible reforestation partners plant one mangrove for every Earth Broadband customer; for any Earth Hero subscribers, an extra five trees will be planted! But we’re not just planting trees; we’re planting seeds of change, creating job and income opportunities for the local communities, and giving them a chance to thrive!