Terre ancestrale ou parc national ? entre légitimité sociale et légalité à Madagascar

A Madagascar, le programme Bemaraha, au sein de l’ANGAP (Association Nationale pour la Gestion des Aires Protégées) est financé par l’Union Européenne. Débuté en 1991, il a pour objectif le développement de cette région très enclavée située au moyen ouest de Madagascar et la conservation de la biodiversité du Parc National des Tsingy de Bemaraha. Face aux gestionnaires, les riverains autochtones pour lesquels la forêt est une ressource spirituelle et matérielle. Cet article explicite un peu la complexité des relations entre riverains et forêt, relations occultées par le processus de gestion du parc qui suppose que les dégradations actuelles de la forêt sont dues aux nouvelles pratiques et comportements des migrants et des autochtones sur les ressources naturelles. Des divergences de vue entre ces acteurs en présence, conduisent à des tensions latentes. La thèse développée dans cet article concerne la mise en œuvre de plans de gestion de la nature. Elle relate de l’importance de prendre en compte la sacralité du lieu, une attitude qui permettrait d’une part davantage de respect des populations et de leurs pratiques, et d’autre part peut-être une plus grande efficacité des restrictions instaurées avec le parc.In Madagascar, the Bemaraha program, within the ANGAP (National  Association for the Management of the Protected Areas) is sponsored by the European Union. Started in 1991, it aims at the development of this enclosed area of the middle west of Madagascar and the conservation of the National Park of Tsingy of Bemaraha. In contrast to the managers of the park, the indigenous residents see the forest as a spiritual and material resource. This article demonstrates the complexity of the relationship of indigenous people to the forest, and shows how this relationship is denied by the park management’s assumption that the present degradation of the natural resources of the forest is due to the practices of migrant and indigenous people. Divergent view among these agents leads to latent tensions. The thesis developed in this article focuses on the application of nature management plans. It shows the importance of taking into account the sacred nature of the place, an attitude which may allow on the one hand more respect for the people and their practices, and on the other a greater efficiency in the restrictions imposed on the park

Terre ancestrale ou parc national ? entre légitimité sociale et légalité à Madagascar

In Madagascar, the Bemaraha program, within the ANGAP (National  Association for the Management of the Protected Areas) is sponsored by the European Union. Started in 1991, it aims at the development of this enclosed area of the middle west of Madagascar and the conservation of the National Park of Tsingy of Bemaraha. In contrast to the managers of the park, the indigenous residents see the forest as a spiritual and material resource.This article demonstrates the complexity of the relationship of indigenous people to the forest, and shows how this relationship is denied by the park management’s assumption that the present degradation of the natural resources of the forest is due to the practices of migrant and indigenous people. Divergent view among these agents leads to latent tensions. The thesis developed in this article focuses on the application of nature management plans. It shows the importance of taking into account the sacred nature of the place, an attitude which may allow on the one hand more respect for the people and their practices, and on the other a greater efficiency in the restrictions imposed on the park