New Discoveries & Achievements in Madagascar!

For over 15 years the Conservation project in Madagascar has focused on protecting and monitoring threatened coastal littoral forests in the South Eastern region. The team’s primary aim is to protect the unparalleled and fragile ecosystem by conducting valuable research into the region’s biodiversity, helping to drive a conservation strategy for future protection whilst working alongside the local community.

In the past 3 years alone with the help of volunteers, the Conservation project has achieved the following amazing results:

• Discovered 12 new herpetological species, including frogs, chameleons, snakes, geckos and skinks, through genetic barcoding assessments
• Assisted IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) research on conservation threats to 3 species of nocturnal lemurs
• Conducted a pioneering study of rare endemic mouse lemurs, fitting 20 individuals with radio collars to document home range and territory size. This research identified specific tree species which are crucial for their future survival

• Annually recorded over 1000 observations of reptiles and amphibians. This data is being continuously collected until 2021, when full analysis will inform conservation strategy planning for herpetological species in the region
• Published research papers in scientific peer-reviewed journals as part of the international conservation community
• Identified an increase in local Nile crocodile population

• Protected lobster stocks and breeding grounds from overfishing whilst providing a sustainable income for community members by establishing a ‘no take zone’ and collecting data on catch. This has economically benefitted over 845 fishers through a 33% increase in the price fishers receive and an estimated 435% increase in catch, having a direct impact on family and community income

• Prepared over 1600 tree seedlings for creating a forest corridor between isolated remnants of protected littoral forest fragments, aiding reforestation, species diversity and dispersal of endangered wildlife
• Completed a 17-month in-depth data set summary on the structure, density and health of each forest fragment
• Held a beach clean-up World Environment Day event in surrounding communities, with over 300 attendees. This helped raise awareness on the impact of plastic pollution and other anthropogenic influences on the natural environment

• Constructed an eco-tourism hide and established a community enforced conservation zone for the Malagasy flying fox bat. Two community-based bat patrol officers were trained which resulted in a dramatic increase in the local bat population
• Ran weekly English and Environmental classes at 2 primary schools for over 100 students

Find out more about how you can get involved in this incredible project here: https://www.podvolunteer.org/projects/conservation-madagascar