In developing The Angraecoid Alliance, it seemed only reasonable to research what Integrated Conservation and Development projects had been successful in Madagascar.  Because Madagascar is such a high-priority country for conservation, there are quite a number of scholarly journals dedicated to various aspects of conservation.  

There are articles which provide an in depth analysis of the deforestation and habitat destruction in Madagascar: 

• Grady J. Harper et al., “Fifty years of deforestation and forest fragmentation in Madagascar,” Environmental Conservation 34, no. 4 (2007): 330.
• Orjan Bodin et al., “The Value of Small Size:  Loss of Forest Patches and Ecological Thresholds in Southern Madagascar,” Ecological Applications 16, no. 2 (2006): 440.
•  James E.M. Watson, et al., “Habitat structure and proximity to forest edge affect the abundance and distribution of forest dependent birds in tropical coastal forest of southeastern Madagascar,” Biological Conservation 120 (2004): 311.

 There are articles specifically assessing the success of ICDPs and other economic development projects in Madagascar.  

• Nadine V. M. Fritz-Vietta et al., “Community-based management in two biosphere reserves in Madagascar—distinctions and similarities: What can be learned from different approaches,” Madagascar Conservation & Development 4, no. 2 (Dec. 2009): 90.
• Robert A. Kozak, “Alternative business models for forest-dependent communities in Africa:  A pragmatic consideration of small-scale enterprises and a path forward,” Madagascar Conservation & Development 4, no. 2 (Dec. 2009): 7.
• C. Kremen et al., “Economic Incentives for Rain Forest Conservation across Scales,” Science 288 (9 June 2000): 1830.
•  Jorg U. Ganzhorn, “A combined research agenda towards integrated conservation and development for Madagascar,” Madagascar Conservation & Development 5, no. 2 (Dec. 2010): 82.
•  Jeffrey Sayer, “Can conservation and development really be integrated,” Madagascar Conservation & Development 4, no. 1, (June 2009): 10.
• Richard R. Marcus, “Seeing the Forest for the Trees:  Integrated Conservation and Development Projects and Local Perceptions of Conservation in Madagascar,” Human Ecology 29, no. 4 (2001): 384.

There are articles analyzing the Malagasy people's reaction to and feelings about conservation reserves. 

• Richard R. Marcus, “Seeing the Forest for the Trees:  Integrated Conservation and Development Projects and Local Perceptions of Conservation in Madagascar,” Human Ecology 29, no. 4 (2001): 382.
•  Andrew Walsh, “The Obvious Aspects of Ecological Underprivilege in Ankara, Northern Madagascar, American Anthropologist 107, no. 4 (Dec. 2005): 654.

There are articles evaluating land management concerns and issues unique to Madagascar because of its history and culture. 

• William J. McConnell and Sean P. Sweeney, “Challenges of Forest Governance in Madagascar,” The Geographical Journal 171, no. 2 (June 2005): 227.
•  Christian A. Kull, Isle of Fire:  The Political Ecology of Landscape Burning in Madagascar (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2004), 15.
•  Daniela Raik, “Forest Management in Madagascar: An Historical Overview,” Madagascar Conservation & Development 2, no. 1 (Dec. 2007): 5-10.

Having read these sources -- and dozens of others -- I have come to several conclusions.  

1. Conservation in Madagascar needs to happen now.  (Well, actually it needed to happen 10 years ago, but now will have to do.)  There are a number of organizations working hard to conserve habitat in Madagascar.  Many of them have been in Madagascar for a long time and have made significant progress. 
   
2. The Angraecoid Alliance's planned nursery and conservation area is following in the footsteps of other successful programs.  One of the experts observed that successful ICDPs “almost always come from the new opportunities presented by external investment, new infrastructure and access to markets.”   (Sayer, 10).  The Angraecoid Alliance, Inc. plans to provide the investment and training to establish the nursery and micro-propagation facility. 
   We will also obtain the necessary documentation for the nursery to legally export the orchids around the world and will assist to develop the international market.  Finally, we will broker the plant sales on behalf of the nursery until such time as it can be independently managed by the village community.
   
3. There is a great deal of work to be done, even before we break ground in Madagascar.  Of course, that is obvious, but not discouraging.  :)