An environmental education centre in Madagascar supported by Jesuit Missions has built a nursery garden that could produce more than 200,000 plants per year.
As part of its reforestation efforts, the Centre Arrupe Madagascar in Antananarivo has developed a 9,000m2 site where it can grow a variety of seedlings, including fruit trees, forest plants and endemic species.
The facility is currently capable of producing 105,000 plants per year, surpassing its initial target of 100,000, and the centre believes there is scope to double this output.
Over the past few weeks, it has distributed more than 50,000 seedlings to nearly 200 organisations, associations, schools and individuals, with plans in place to monitor their progress over the coming months.
A spokesperson for the Centre Arrupe said: “The project delivers tangible environmental and social impact.
“Environmentally, the nursery ensures a reliable supply of high-quality seedlings for reforestation campaigns while promoting eco-friendly practices such as solar-powered energy systems and the use of recycled, biodegradable planting bags.
“Socially, it has generated local employment – through nursery management, site maintenance, and construction workers – and strengthened community cohesion.”
More than 250 people, including students and teachers, have taken part in recent reforestation weekends, while nearly 350 young people benefited from environmental awareness sessions run by the centre.
Following the success of the nursery – which it sees as a long-term driver of ecological education and sustainable development – the Centre Arrupe has plans to continue its plant distribution, diversify the seed varieties, provide more teacher training, locally produce planting bags, and expand its solar programme.
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