The objective of the project is toimprove the environmental management capacity in Madagascarthrough the implementation of institutional development andemergency actions. Project components included: (i)protection and management of biodiversity; (ii)community-based soil conservation and watershed management;(iii) mapping and remote sensing for improved naturalresources management; (iv) improved land security throughcadastral surveys; (v) environmental sensitization,education and training; and (vi) research and institutionbuilding and reinforcement, (e.g., for natural forestmanagement). Lessons learned: local participation,integration of environmental concerns into national andlocal decision-making and multi-donor input at the designstage increased the effectiveness of the project. The secondenvironment project under preparation seeks to incorporatesuch concerns more strategically at the design stage.