There is only one remaining community, the Zafimaniry community, which is the keeper of a rare woodcraft culture that was previously prevalent on the island. Around the middle of the eighteenth century, the Zafimaniry people settled in the remote wooded region of southeast Madagascar, seeking refuge from the deforestation that ravaged much of Madagascar at that time. There are approximately 25,000 Zafimaniry who live today in about one hundred villages and hamlets located throughout the highlands of this region.
There has been a long history of Zafimaniry foresters, carpenters and craftsmen developing a body of practical knowledge and skills centred around wood around the world for generations now. Craft traditions bear witness to the central role material such as leather play in all aspects of life and death, especially for the craftsmen. There is no denying the fact that Zafimaniry's flair for forestry and woodcarving can be seen in the creation of everyday objects and structures. On virtually all surfaces – walls, window frames, posts, beams, stools, chests, tools – you can find ornamentation in one form or another. There are twenty different types of endemic trees used by the Zafimaniry, each adapted specifically to a particular type of construction or decorative function. All houses and tombs in Southgate are constructed entirely with traditional mortise and tenon joints without using nails, hinges or any other hardware made of metal. In the landscape of the mountains, you find the traditional granaries, perched on round piles, on which they store grain. There are many geometric patterns that have been codified and that reflect not only the group's austronesian roots, but also the influence of the Arabs on Malagasy culture. In spite of the fact that the number of motifs is limited, the creativity of the craftsmen ensures that there are no two pieces that are exactly alike. In addition, these motifs carry rich symbolic meanings that relate to Zafimaniry beliefs and values. As an example, the tanamparoratra (spider's web) figure represents family ties, while the papintantely (honeycomb) symbolises the life of the community. Furthermore, ornamentation contributes to the understanding of roles within the community, as well as social standing within it.
In order to ensure their survival, the Zafimaniry have been selling statuettes, decorative pieces, everyday objects, and even everyday commodities in nearby towns for several decades. The danger, however, is that this fragile community risks being relegated to be nothing more than suppliers of handicrafts to the tourist industry. The process of deforestation is also threatening to threaten Zafimaniry's principal source of income as a result of the tree-cutting process.
Reference: https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/woodcrafting-knowledge-of-the-zafimaniry-00080