UPDATES From the field- JAN. 1 2010 We leave to the field now to finish up the construction of the biogas digestor, finish our new well, set up a meteorological station, and stake out the location of the new Agroecology and Reforestation Center so we can begin to dig out the foundation. We will be ordering wood from Tulear so that we are not using spiny forest species, which are highly endangered, and this wood is already being grown in the highlands for construction. Next week we will begin the construction of the station. We have also been working to fundraise the last few weeks to raise the money to set up our Center. Thank you to all those all over this universe who donated money! We have been tirelessly digging in the dirt to construct the well- check out the new photos linked below. The community has given big support, helping to plant thousands of trees, making planting bags, mixing soil, watering, busting and moving rocks for the well, and planting 50 kilograms of potatoes which was our Christmas gift to them. It has been a great exchange of ideas, actions, and the momentum is flowing! NOV. 19 2009 New Latitude and ho avy launched a new season in the spiny forest on the 24th of October 2009 by joining the global climate change action movement 350.org. Our local partner, the association FIMPAHARA has mobilized the Ranobe community to participate in the action day and plant a nursery of 350 seeds of 13 native tree species. Additionally they transplanted 446 saplings of 18 native species from an existing nursery to their crop fields as part of their agroforestry scheme. Several thousand seeds of over 50 native species have been collected by 12 FIMPAHARA members who have participated in a seed harvest competition and will plant these seeds within the next few weeks. Discussions with WWF Madagascar opened opportunities for ho avy's participation in refining the management plan and delineating special zones for community conservation, ecological restoration, and monitoring within the Ranobe protected area to be declared by the end of 2009. FIMPAHARA has established home vegetable gardens, utilizing recycled gray water from dish washing and continues to build compost to add to the new beds. Ho avy's partners and specialists from the University of Michigan visited the project's field site over the past two weeks, sharing their engineering expertise to design a biogas digester. Also their have analyzed crop revenues, agroforestry improvements and mircofinance options for the community.
New Latitude is excited to announce that all donations over $50 are 100% tax-deductable as we are now officially recognized as a 501[c](3) non-profit entity. New Latitude receives tax-exempt status as a project of the International Humanities Center. All grants, donations and contributions come straight to New Latitude via IH Center’s fiscal sponsorship program (IH Center)
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