Equator Prize: 20.000US Dollars for the Association « Adidy Maitso »

The Association « Adidy Maitso », from the rural Commune of Didy, has won a sum of 20.000US Dollars within the frame of a contest called “Equator Prize 2010”. The association has won 15.000US Dollars as a final prize for the winner of the contest, in addition to the 5.000Us Dollars granted for being among the finalist group. The prize has been given to the association’s delegate, Jean-Claude Randriamanantsoa, on September, 20 in New York during the United Nations’ general assembly. The Equator Prize contest is organized by the United Nations’ Development Program (Pnud) every 2 years and focuses on the ability of a community, especially a rural one, to preserve its biodiversity and to reduce the poverty rate in that community. The Commune of Didy, located inside the protected area of Ankeniheny-Zahamena, is a very valuable locality ecologically and biologically. The Association “Adidy Maitso” has undertaken activities aiming at stopping slush-and-burn cultivation. In return, it suggested other alternatives destined to improve agricultural techniques. Besides, the association takes part in a reforestation project of 25 hectares of land, which is collaboration with the International Conservation, the Pnud and the Ministry of Environment.