By Betty Gisore | Grants and Administrative Assistant
The Ala Programme Phase III (August 2024 to July 2026) builds on more than five years of reforestation and research to strengthen forest corridors in the Sainte Luce Littoral Forest, a vital habitat for endangered lemur species. This phase focuses on improving ecological connectivity, sharing research on community resource needs, and strengthening skills and collaboration among forest management actors, while responding to increasing environmental pressures.
A major milestone this year has been the expansion of the Ala Nursery as part of SEED’s fire recovery strategy. Previously capped at 12,000 seedlings, the nursery now holds over 31,000 seedlings across 29 indegenous species, with space for a further 9,000. New raised beds allow seedlings to remain in the nursery for longer periods, improving root development and resilience. Seedling selection prioritises indegenous species suited to harsh deforested conditions, informed by collaboration with the Missouri Botanical Garden and SEED’s Conservation Research Programme.
Despite slow growth in 2025 caused by a prolonged water shortage after the nursery well broke, the team successfully mitigated impacts through careful hand watering and has begun exploring permanent irrigation solutions. Seedling hardening began in November 2025, gradually acclimatising trees to full sun and reduced watering to prepare them for field conditions and limit transplant shock ahead of planting.
The programme has also adapted its corridor strategy based on research findings and fire impacts. Narrow corridors proved vulnerable during the January 2024 fire, prompting a shift toward wider and more resilient forest corridors planted entirely with native indegenous species. To support this expansion, SEED purchased two hectares of land in November 2025 adjacent to existing corridors, specifically to increase forest connectivity and habitat resilience. Eight ancestral landholders were fairly compensated for this land, an approach that has been essential for maintaining community trust and supporting long term conservation success.
Planting efforts have accelerated dramatically. In January alone, 8,032 native seedlings were planted, surpassing the total planted in all of 2025. With plans to plant over 20,000 seedlings in 2026, this will be the most impactful planting season in the history of the Ala Programme.
Thanks to your continued support, Project Ala is restoring forests, protecting lemur habitat, and building a more resilient landscape for the future.
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