In June 2012, WCS arranged a study tour in southwest Madagascar (Toliara seascape), with visits in Soariake and Velondriake MPAs villages, for sixteen members of Ankivonjy and Anakarea MPAs local management com- mittees (NW Madagascar), to promote infor- mation sharing and peer-to-peer learning exchanges between communities involved in the sustainable management of their marine resources.
Some of these participants joined supporting partners and community repre-
sentatives of locally managed marine areas (LMMA) from all over Madagascar (including Antongil Bay) at the first Madagascar LMMA forum hosted by Blue Ventures in Andava- doaka and Toliara in June 11-15 2012. During this forum participants decided to create an informal LMMA network called MIHARI with the objective to promote information ex- changes, share best practices, and have a stronger voice in regional and national deci- sion-making.