Foxhole Forests

In Madagascar, where up to 90% of all forest cover has been lost, preservation of remaining rainforest is not enough; restoration is essential to re-establish ecosystem services and buffer biodiversity and human communities from future threats, particularly climate change. Ivohiboro, a remnant patch of montane rainforest that boasts numerous unique, undescribed species and serves as the sole supply of drinking water for surrounding communities, has been isolated from larger tracts of contiguous forest for decades. Agricultural development has led the landscape around Ivohiboro to become dominated by invasive grassland that burns frequently. Without economic systems that incentivize restoration, Madagascar’s precarious state will devolve into catastrophe. Foxhole forests are designed to serve two simultaneous functions: rainforest restoration and fire protection. Foxhole forests are planted within the boundaries of redundant firebreaks, reminiscent of the style used by firefighters in the western U.S. Our fox