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:: Parc Ivoloina
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Parc Ivoloina is located 12 km northwest of Toamasina on the southwestern side of the Ivoloina River in an area that was originally comprised of primary lowland rainforest. Parc Ivoloina was created in the 1920s when approximately 400-hectares of forest were converted to managed station which, over the years, was used as a site for producing commercial timber, evaluating the performance of exotic tree species in Madagascar's eastern climate, fisheries research, a small botanical garden with arboretum collections and a holding facility for confiscated lemurs and tortoises which was developed into a zoo in 1963. In 1988, the MFG was invited to help the Malagasy government restore and improve the zoo after it had been destroyed by a cyclone.
The Parc's topography is varied and includes forested hills, a series of flat areas that have been developed to create the 5 hectare Lake Fluence, the 3 hectare zoo, various agroforestry model stations and recreational/picnic areas. The patches of secondary forest are dominated by exotic trees, especially pine and eucalyptus species. The native palm, ravenala which grows well in degraded forests is abundant as is the highly invasive blanket fern. Over the years small sections have been reforested with native trees; a complete reforestation plan that prioritizes endemic species is being developed. |
Getting to Parc Ivoloina
The last road to Parc Ivoloina is an "experience". The dirt road has deteriorated due to use of large trucks moving large loads of rock from a nearby quarry or sand from the river to businesses in or beyond Toamasina. Modest repairs are made annually but ability to blacktop the road is beyond the city's budget.
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The Ivoloina Zoo: The three hectare zoo displays a collection of endemic species, some of which are free-ranging. The Zoo also serves as an authorized site to house animals confiscated by the authorities and illegally held pets given up by private individuals.
The Environmental Education Center (EEC): The EEC encompasses two classrooms that are chiefly used for primary and secondary school students and also serves as a n information center for visitors.
The Ivoloina Conservation and Training Center (ICTC) : the ICTC is comprised of a conference room that can hold up to 100 people, and equipped laboratory that accommodates 25 people, a dormitory for 24 people and a kitchen that can seat 100 people. The ICTC is used to host our capacity building workshops and is available for other organizations to rent for meetings or other functions.
The Agriculture Model Station: This site is comprised of multiple demonstration gardens and nurseries that show different products (vegetables, fruits, medicinal plants, etc) and farming techniques (intensive rice cultivation, composting, preparing terraces along the curvature of the land, etc.
The Forestry Station: this is the largest site within the Parc and includes all forested sections, the lakes, hiking trails, picnic and campsites. The forestry station plays a big role as the ICTC's living laboratory.
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