Sakalava woman working with Raffia from the Raffia palm (Raffia rarinifera) The fibres are combed out from the leaves once the leaves have dried.  They are either left their natural colour or dyed with various natural dyes. These are then woven into hats, baskets and mats that are very characteristic of Madagascar. There is a project in the Ankarafantsika Nature Reserve helping several local communities to sustainably yield the palm leaves and thereby make a living from the forest and earn money rather than live off the forest causing more habitat distruction.<br /> Ankarafantsika Nature Reserve, Western deciduous forest. MADAGASCAR
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