We begin this series by remembering someone who can no longer speak for himself, yet whose courage continues to guide many of us who work with and for the forests of Madagascar.
Henri Rakotoarisoa was a community forest guardian from Beparasy, Alaotra-Mangoro. As president of the VOI Mialo — an association dedicated to protecting the forest for future generations — he spent years monitoring illegal logging, raising awareness in villages. His reporting on trafficking and defending a fragile fragment of primary forest was followed by thousands of forests lovers all over Madagascar. He did this work quietly without funding. He kept on his mission despite repeated intimidation.
On 2 June 2022, near the forest he had protected for so long, Henri was killed.
In memory of
Henri Rakotoarisoa
(† 2 June 2022, Beparasy)
Guardian of the forest.
“Madagascar : un militant écologiste assassiné sur fond de trafic de bois” — Le Monde (09 June 2022) Le Monde.fr
https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2022/06/09/madagascar-un-militant-ecologiste-assassine-sur-fond-de-trafic-de-bois_6129592_3212.html
“Un militant écologiste sauvagement assassiné à Madagascar” — RFI (08 June 2022) RFI
https://www.rfi.fr/fr/environnement/20220607-un-militant-%C3%A9cologiste-sauvagement-assassin%C3%A9-%C3%A0-madagascar
“Madagascar: ouverture du procès de l’assassinat du militant écologiste Henri Rakotoarisoa” — RFI (21 June 2022) RFI
https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20220621-madagascar-ouverture-du-proc%C3%A8s-de-l-assassinat-du-militant-%C3%A9cologiste-henri-rakotoarisoa
“Madagascar : huit condamnés à perpétuité pour le meurtre d’un militant écologiste” — Linfo.re / Océan-Indien (22 Nov 2022) Linfo.re
https://www.linfo.re/ocean-indien/madagascar/madagascar-8-personnes-condamnees-a-perpetuite-pour-le-meurtre-d-un-militant-ecologiste
“Perpétuité pour les assassins d’un militant écologiste” — Le Journal des Archipels (23 Nov 2022) Le Journal des Archipels
https://www.lejournaldesarchipels.com/2022/11/23/perpetuite-pour-les-assassins-dun-militant-ecologiste/
“Madagascar : les défenseurs de l’environnement et des communautés locales font face à de nombreux dangers” — Business & Human Rights Resource Centre / via Mongabay (2024) Business and Human Rights Centre
https://www.business-humanrights.org/fr/derni%C3%A8res-actualit%C3%A9s/madagascar-les-d%C3%A9fenseurs-de-lenvironnement-et-des-communaut%C3%A9s-de-plus-en-plus-en-danger-locales-deplus-enh-plus-en-d/
“Communiqué de presse de la société civile suite à l’assassinat d’un militant écologiste à Madagascar” — NGO / civil society press release (17 June 2022) Foncier Développement
https://www.foncier-developpement.fr/actualite/communique-de-presse-de-la-societe-civile-suite-a-lassassinat-dun-militant-ecologiste-a-madagascar/
“Le meurtre d’un militant ne laisse pas indifférent les Nations Unies” — Madagascar Tribune (11 June 2022) report about UN reaction and local condemnation. Madagascar-Tribune.com
https://www.madagascar-tribune.com/Le-meurtre-d-un-militant%2C27529.html
“Affaire Henri Rakotoarisoa — les yeux du monde entier sont rivés sur nous” — Studio Sifaka (17 June 2022) — article summarizing his case and calls for justice. studiosifaka.org
https://www.studiosifaka.org/articles/actualites/item/5768-affaire-henri-rakotoarisoa-les-yeux-du-monde-entier-sont-rives-sur-nous.html
Video from Henri Rakotoarisoa call for forest protection in 2021 shared by Fokonolona Ankazodandy Beparasy
https://www.facebook.com/reel/105443721688328
ARBRES À PALABRES for #dendrophiles edition for Antson’ny tontolo miaina #antsonytontolomiaina
Chapitre 1 – The Guardians #antsonytontolomiaina
Chapter 2 — Trees: histories, symbols, ecological values #antsonytontolomiaina