Sekoly Maintso
Sekoly Maintso (Malagasy for “Green Schools”) is SEED Madagascar’s carbon offsetting project. Started in 2022, Sekoly Maintso has been planting trees at school sites to offset the carbon dioxide emissions of SEED’s school constructions and repairs, while simultaneously providing natural resources for communities.
Since 2005, SEED’s Sekoly Programme has been improving access to education for children in the Anosy region through the construction and repair of school infrastructure. Despite this, 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 and droughts (World Bank, 2021). Recognising our responsibility to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions, SEED started Sekoly Maintso in 2022.
Sekoly Maintso involves planting trees on two sites of community-owned land, one carbon offset site with Acacia mangium (Acacia), and one community resource use site with species chosen by the community. So far, Sekoly Maintso planting sites have been established in Emagnevy, Esinda, Esohihy, and Mandiso. 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 20% available for harvesting after five years, and 20% available for harvesting per year after that. To ensure long-term site sustainability and maintenance, the community will replant an equal number of trees after harvesting them from the resource use site. Additionally, implementation of a fire mitigation strategy began in 2024 to protect the planting sites and the wider community. The strategy involves distributing gloves and fire beaters to local communities, organising community mass mobilisations on fire prevention, recruiting and training fire agents, and establishing firebreaks around the planting sites. Community engagement is a key focus of Sekoly Maintso, with students actively participating in the care of fruit trees planted in and around school sites and taking part in environmental education sessions to further enhance their understanding and involvement in sustainable practices.
mural of Emagnevy Primary School
Progress (January 2022 - December 2024)
- 3,821 Acacia planted across four carbon offset sites in Emagnevy, Esinda, Esohihy, and Mandiso, to offset the carbon dioxide emissions of the construction and repair of 13 schools within ten years.
- 3,831 trees, consisting of Acacia and Eucalyptus, planted across four community resource use sites.
- 444 fruit trees planted in and around school sites.
- 100 seedlings from four native species planted in the carbon offset site in Emagnevy, demonstrating an average growth rate of 48% (6.5 cm) and an average survival rate of 88% between April and November 2024.
- Seven environmental education sessions held with students on the importance of good sustainability practices.
- Three dina (local law) and dina committees established to manage planting sites in Emagnevy, Esinda, and Esohihy, and one existing dina reinforced to protect the planting site in Mandiso.
- Two living fences planted, at Emagnevy and Mandiso, to provide natural protection to the planting sites from Zebu and other threats.
- Three planting nurseries established, in Emagnevy, Esinda, and Mandiso, each of which employs a local planting site assistant.
- Seven fire agents recruited and trained to lead community fire response, and three community mass mobilisations held focusing on the threat of fire.
- Fire mitigation equipment, including 30 gloves and fire beaters, distributed across three communities.
Next Steps
- Expanding Sekoly Maintso by establishing a new planting site in Tsagnoriha.
- Replacing Acacia with Moringa oleifera (Moringa) in all future carbon offset sites, aiming to provide school children with nutritious Moringa leaves and better align with local practices in addition to carbon offsetting.
- Planting 1,209 Moringa trees to offset two new school builds and the construction of classroom furniture by Project Fanaka.
- Planting an equal number of trees in community resource use sites, with the species chosen by the local communities.
- Planting 500 native seedlings in carbon offset sites across Emagnevy, Esohihy, and Mandiso, and 100 fruit trees in Esinda.
- Replanting 2,327 Acacia seedlings in Esinda and Emagnevy in response to recent fires.
- Continuing fire mitigation activities.
- Continuing to monitor the growth of Acacia to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions offset by Sekoly Maintso planting sites to date.
