Artisans

Ny Tanintsika

Ny Tanintsika (literally: Our Land / Our Earth) is a non-governmental organisation working for the conservation of nature in Madagascar. The organisation works together with villagers and farmers from Amoron’i Mania, a province in the south of the island, where the largest Tapia forests are located.

Ny Tanintsika and the women and men from the villages breathe new life into the traditional production of woven wild silk. This way, they recreate a source of income for the poorest in the region and protect the Tapia forests at the same time.

The production of wild silk plays an important role in Madagascan culture. The Landibe (also known as Borocera Madagascariensis) produces large silk cocoons. The cocoons are actually made by different silkworms working together.

The presence of the Landibe in Madagascar is directly related to the Tapia forests. For this silkworm loves to eat the red fruit the trees produce.

Over the years, the Tapia forests together with the Landibe have been disappearing slowly. The trees are being cut down to make space for agricultural land.

The villagers and farmers in the south work with Ny Tanintsika to plant young Tapia trees in protected areas, creating new Tapia plantations.

In the remaining old Tapia forests, the Landibe cocoons are collected and set free at the new plantations. This allows the butterfly to multiply itself and sustainably increases the amount of cocoons.

Part of the cocoons from the plantations are collected to make silk scarves and textile. Others are being sold at the market, eaten or transported back to the old forests.  The silkworm is a well-known source of protein.

The process of making scarves from the silk cocoons is very labour-intensive and requires the relentless effort of a large group of women and men. Those who work on the plantations collect the cocoons, spin the silk, dye and weave. Every scarf is 100% handmade and dyed with natural dye.

Take a look at the scarves from Ny Tanintsika.

The women from Ny Tanintsika show their scarves