A Malagasy scientist is standing up for the environment after witnessing the brutal destruction of forests in her homeland.
Félicité Volatiana remembers a childhood surrounded by nature, but she fears climate change and environmental degradation means future generations might not experience this.
Illegal logging, bushfires and a careless attitude towards the environment from many have put the forests and diverse wildlife of Madagascar under serious threat.
Félicité explains: “My deep love for the environment started from a young age. When I was a child, our area was rich with lush forests and abundant resources.
“Sadly, illegal activities and widespread environmental damage have put these forests at risk, and many native species are in danger.”
To combat this, and “turn her passion into action”, she opted to study environmental science, sustainable development and agriculture after finishing secondary school.
As a member of the Tropical Biodiversity Social Enterprise and working with the Centre Arrupe – a partner of Jesuit Missions – she has taken practical steps by building plant nurseries and fighting wildfires.
Félicité also seeks to raise awareness of environmental issues and encourages everyone to think about the changes they can make to help protect the planet.
“We’re seeing a growing interest from people wanting to plant trees on their land.”
She appreciates that there is a long way to go in her country – Madagascar is among the most vulnerable in the world when it comes to the effects of climate change – but is buoyed by the response she has seen to her efforts.
“We’ve been able to convince many people to take environmental protection seriously,” she says.
“Even though our plants are still in nurseries, we’re seeing a growing interest from people wanting to plant trees on their land.
“The youth are also becoming more engaged, looking for ways to create sustainable jobs and help protect our forests.”
Félicité adds that faith forms an important part of her work, particularly in her role as a Laudato Si’ Animator at the Centre Arrupe.
She said using and promoting Pope Francis’s encyclical as a guide to caring for our common home has been a useful tool when it comes to connecting with Christian communities Madagascar.
“The [Laudato Si’ Animator] training at the Centre Arrupe was a game-changer; it combined scientific knowledge with spiritual teachings, giving us effective ways to communicate the importance of environmental protection,” she says.
All of this means there is hope for the future, despite what appears to be, at present, a bleak situation.
Pope Francis, the team at the Centre Arrupe, and nature lovers everywhere continue to advocate for the urgent protection of our planet.
And as Félicité notes: “Thanks to these efforts, I’m optimistic about restoring our natural world for future generations.”
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