Crossing the Tomaro

By Safina Center Fellow Alain Rasolo

The Andriegna Waterfalls in Madagascar. ©Alain Rasolo

Adjacent to Ranomafana National park, the rainforest managed by the local community Mitsinjo boasts unique geographic features, landmarks, and high biodiversity. You have the forest itself with all its rare native trees, ferns, orchids, lemurs, and other wildlife; then within it there is the historical and cultural site of the 5 tombstones (Vatolahy Dimy); and finally, there’s the Andriegna twin waterfalls. Unfortunately, to reach the latter from the forest, visitors have to cross the 15m wide river of Tomaro, which is only feasible when the water is low and if one is willing to hop on rocks. With the need to better connect the two sides of the river, we are now working on a bridge.

With the help of The Safina Center Fellowship and some of the proceeds from my art gallery, the expenses for the contractor and most of the material cost are now covered. However, this is also a collaborative endeavor. Mitsinjo is providing the gravel and sand needed for the construction as well as material transport. So far, we’ve finished making the rock blocks and are now sourcing the gravel and sand. We plan to start construction this week.

A mockup of the VOI Bridge to the Waterfalls. ©Alain Rasolo

With this bridge we hope that a better connected Mitsinjo's forest will be more inviting to visitors, which will improve the local economy, and in return will ensure the conservation of the rainforest.