The purpose of the project that started in 2007 is to support people living in villages situated within the buffer zones of conservation areas. Tany maitso works in three different areas in the south-eastern part of the island and has a total of 25 villages participating in the project. The project provides the villagers with the materials and training for alternative sources of income (now that the access to the forest is prohibited):
- vegetable and tree plantations
- beekeeping
- rat-prevention in the rice fields
Tany maitso also organizes literacy training for the illiterate members of the communities. With the ability to read, write and make basic calculations the people are much better able to participate in the local community decicion making, sell their products in the market and encourage their children to get an education. In 2009 the project started to support association work in the villages.
