34. The Special Rapporteur visited a park in Andasibe that is managed by a communityassociation, VOI MMA. Its members are not merely implementing predesigned plans;rather, they are independent decision-makers in natural resources management. He saw thecare with which the community members monitor critically endangered species such as theindri, protect against unlawful logging, maintain a plant nursery, plant seedlings andremove invasive eucalyptus trees. The protection of biodiversity by the communityassociation helps to decrease pressure on nearby protected areas, including theAnalamazaotra Special Reserve and the Andasibe-Manatadia National Park. In addition tothe environmental benefits, the community park has also improved the local economy.Since the community took over the management, the number of paying visitors to its parkhas greatly increased, from about 1,000 in 2011 to 4,600 in 2015.
34. The Special Rapporteur visited a park in Andasibe that is managed by a community association, VOI MMA. Its members are not merely implementing predesigned plans; rather, they are independent decision-makers in natural resources management. He saw the care with which the community members monitor critically endangered species such as the indri, protect against unlawful logging, maintain a plant nursery, plant seedlings and remove invasive eucalyptus trees. The protection of biodiversity by the community association helps to decrease pressure on nearby protected areas, including the Analamazaotra Special Reserve and the Andasibe-Manatadia National Park. In addition to the environmental benefits, the community park has also improved the local economy. Since the community took over the management, the number of paying visitors to its park has greatly increased, from about 1,000 in 2011 to 4,600 in 2015.