Scaling nature-based solutions for climate resilient infrastructure

Role: Research assistant, Madagascar
Project: Barriers and enabling factors affecting the implementation and long-term maintenance of green and blue infrastructures in peri-urban areas of Antananarivo, Madagascar
Affiliation: Institute and Observatory of Geophysics of Antananarivo and ESSA Forêts, University of Antananarivo
ORCID ID: N/A
Email: rovaniainarakotomanantsoa@gmail.com

Rovaniaina Rakotomanantsoa holds a Master’s degree in Global Physics, specialising in GIS and remote sensing at the Institute and Observatory of Geophysics of Antananarivo (IOGA), University of Antananarivo. She wrote her thesis on the ecosystem accounting of the rural commune of Mariarano (2018-2023) at the IOGA. This work consisted of analysing satellite data, mapping land use, and assessing changes in ecosystem infrastructure and water resources. To do this, she used advanced tools such as QGIS, SAGA GIS, and Google Earth Engine, which enabled her to produce accurate maps and perform detailed spatial analyses. 

Her experience also includes fieldwork and applied research in various environmental contexts, including socio-economic surveys to assess the natural capital of mangroves in the Diana region and natural capital in the rural commune of Mariarano. She has strong skills in spatial analysis, thematic map production, and technical report writing in the field of environmental assessment. As a research assistant in the FLOURISH project, she has participated in household surveys in flood-prone areas, using KoboCollect to collect data on green and blue infrastructure.

Her areas of interest include environmental monitoring, remote sensing, and spatial analysis, with a view to better understanding ecosystem dynamics and contributing to their conservation and sustainable management in the face of anthropogenic pressures and climate change. At the same time, she is actively involved in social initiatives related to gender issues, promoting positive masculinity and the prevention of gender-based violence, emphasising the importance of integrating social and environmental dimensions for inclusive and equitable development.