Sekoly Maintso
Sekoly Maintso (malagasy for “Green Schools”) is SEED Madagascar’s carbon offsetting project. Started in 2022, Sekoly Maintso aims to offset the carbon dioxide emissions of SEED’s school constructions and repairs while providing natural resources for communities by planting trees at school sites.
Since 2005, SEED has been improving access to education for children in the Anosy region through the construction and repair of school infrastructure with the Sekoly Programme. However, the production and transportation of building materials to school sites produces carbon dioxide emissions that negatively contribute to climate change. Climate change disproportionately affects the communities that SEED works with in southeast Madagascar, where there are increasingly unpredictable and adverse weather patterns, including cyclones, floods, and droughts (World Bank, 2021). Recognising our responsibility to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment, SEED started Sekoly Maintso in 2022.
Sekoly Maintso involves planting two sites on community-owned land, one carbon offset site with Acacia mangium (Acacia), and one community resource use site with species chosen by the community. The carbon emissions of each school construction or repair are calculated using the Inventory of Carbon and Energy database for construction materials. The number of trees required to offset the carbon emissions produced through the build is then calculated. All the trees in the community resource use site will be available for community use, with 25% available for harvesting after five years, and 25% available for harvesting per year after that. After trees have been harvested from the community resource use site, the same amount are replanted by the community to ensure the site is sustainably maintained long-term. Community engagement is a key focus of Sekoly Maintso, with students caring for fruit trees planted in and around school sites and participating in environmental education sessions. So far, Sekoly Maintso planting sites have been established in Emagnevy, Esohihy, and Mandiso.
mural of Emagnevy Primary School
Progress (January 2022 - September 2023)
- 2,504 Acacia planted across three carbon offset sites in Emagnevy, Esohihy, and Mandiso, to offset the carbon dioxide emissions of the construction and repair of eight schools within ten years: Emagnevy EPP, Esohihy EPP, Mananara II EPP, Mandiso EPP, Sainte Luce EPP, Sarisambo EPP, Sarisambo CEG, and Vatambe EPP.
- 1,355 Acacia and 350 Eucalyptus planted across three community resource sites.
- 444 fruit trees planted in and around school sites.
- 218 community members earned additional income through planting and firebreak clearance.
- Four environmental education sessions held with students on the importance of good sustainability practices.
- Two planting nurseries established, in Emagnevy and Mandiso, with two local planting site assistants hired.
- Two living fences planted, at Emagnevy and Mandiso, to provide natural protection to the planting sites from Zebu and other threats.
- Two dina (local law) and dina committees established to manage two planting sites, in Emagnevy and Esohihy, with dina committee members receiving capacity- sharing leadership training.
- One existing dina reinforced to protect the planting site in Mandiso.
Next Steps
- Planting 1,311 Acacia in the 2023/2024 rainy season to offset four new school constructions.
- Planting an equal number of trees in community resource use sites, with the species chosen by the community.
- Expand the number of communities with Sekoly Maintso planting sites.
- Expand the number of school sites where environmental education sessions are held and fruit trees are planted.
- Planting native tree species between Acacia in carbon offset sites, once the Acacia are tall enough to provide shade - similarly to the Ala Programme corridors.
- Continue to monitor the growth of Acacia to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions offset by Sekoly Maintso planting sites to date.
