While working for the United Nations and the National Environmental Office of Madagascar, Olivier Behra conducted major studies highlighting the potential of valuing Malagasy plant extracts to support local community involvement in environmental conservation.
In 2000, he went to the United States for training in aromatic and medicinal plants at Purdue University and later collaborated with researchers from Rutgers University (USA), CIRAD, and Malagasy scientists and academics. Olivier Behra specifically studied factors affecting quality and is the author of several scientific publications.
Olivier Behra also collaborated with major private laboratories to launch new plant extracts for cosmetic use, as well as new essential oils, notably the blue ginger from Vohimana with Chanel, and Saro with the Yves Rocher Group’s research and innovation lab, demonstrating its angiogenesis properties and exceptional tolerance.
While he coined the name Saro, he also initiated the production and marketing of Butterfly Ginger, Fine Maniguette and Iary, the latter marketed in France for many years by Laboratoire Astérale.
Olivier Behra began his career as a research associate at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, conducting crocodile inventories in various Central African countries (Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic), in Madagascar, and French Guiana.
He was the youngest UN project leader, starting his work in Madagascar at just 25, specialising in strategies to add value to natural resources in support of forest and biodiversity conservation. He has authored several key reports for the United Nations, the Malagasy government, and scientific publications on environmental management and essential oils.
In 1993, he founded the NGO “L’Homme et l’Environnement” and initiated the creation of several biodiversity conservation areas in Madagascar: the Vohimana experimental reserve, the Harlequin Frog conservation zone of Fohisokina, the sacred forest of Ambohidravy, the lake preservation area of Mount Passot, the protected forest of Vohibola, and the Cirque Blanc conservatory in Ambalakalanoro.
He also founded in 2000 the first social and solidarity-based enterprise (with no dividends paid to shareholders) certified Wildlife Friendly, dedicated to environmental conservation: Aroma Forest.
The company has been independently managed by the team he set up over 10 years ago and generates income for several thousand farmers across the country.
Olivier Behra has gained global recognition for his leadership in bridging the private sector with on-the-ground conservation projects.
He has served in the official delegations of both the French and Malagasy governments at numerous international conferences, including CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit sharing related to biodiversity trade.
He is recognised for encouraging major companies in the cosmetics industry to develop and use active natural ingredients linked to conservation programmes – notably Chanel, Yves Rocher, and Dessange. He has also advised other CEOs on engaging in biodiversity conservation (Maisons du Monde, Bricorama, etc.).
Several documentaries have been made about Olivier Behra and his work: TF1, ARTE, France 5, Vu du Ciel, Animalia, France 4, etc.
Several books have been written about Olivier Behra’s significant contributions.
« Heros de la Nature » by Natacha Calestrémé, Ed Robert Lafond
« Vu du Ciel, Quand des Hommes s’engagent pour la Nature » Yann Arthus Bertrand, Ed La Martinière
« Portraits Nature, L’Homme et l’animal sauvage : les enjeux planétaires environnementaux » , Fabrice Delsahut, Ed Pascale Galode