Wildlife Conservation Madagascar Project #56044

Threatened biodiversity in Madagascar

by SEED Madagascar

Project Report | Apr 5, 2024
Saving and Understanding the P. Antanosy Geko

By Sally Deitchman | Programmes and Office Assistant

Painted with vibrant red streaks and a colourful blue head and tail, the already critically endangered Phelsuma antanosy gecko faces massive habitation destruction. P. antanosy is endemic to the Anosy regions of southeast Madagascar, with a majority concentrated in the coastal forests of Sainte Luce. While significant forest conservation efforts are in place, the forest area home to the highest concentration of these geckos faces demolition. This results from a newly proposed mining zone, which will clear their forest zone in 2027. The severity of this proposal, paired with the population’s restricted distribution and potential for ecological research, necessitates urgent conservation action.

With learnings from previous P. antanosy conservation efforts, including the development of a conservation action plan, research surveys, and genetic research, SEED has two aims for pilot Project Phelsuma: enhancing scientific understanding of P. antanosy and translocating the current at risk population. Due to its rarity, little is known about the species. As such, SEED hopes to better understand its functions and interactions by conducting updated ecological research surveys. This research will provide the foundation and further motivation for its conservation. To address the planned habitat loss, SEED intends to develop and carry out a five-year translocation strategy informed by international best practices and ecological research. This strategy will be bolstered by rigorous monitoring and evaluation and habitat enhancement to ensure species well-being.

In achieving these aims, SEED will have significantly assisted with P. antanosy’s species preservation while also gaining dynamic new species knowledge and providing a thorough case study for species translocation.

Exciting and impactful pilot projects like this would be impossible without your continued support. Thank you for following along and helping us save the geckos!

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Dec 8, 2023
Preserving Paradise: SEED's Palm Project

By Aaliyah Farah | Programmes and Office Intern

A man tending to the Palms

In the heart of southeast Madagascar's Anosy region lies the Sainte Luce Littoral Forest (SLLF), a critical ecosystem harboring a variety of endemic and threatened species, notably endangered the palm trees. The primary use of the palms is for lobster pot production, as lobster fishing is the primary source of income generation for many households in the region. Palms are also frequently used for house construction. Besides the increased human reliance on this natural resource, palms face challenges like habitat loss and fires. Despite their importance for biodiversity and local livelihoods, the palm species in Sainte Luce remain is relatively understudied and poorly understood.

Project Palms has set sites for safeguarding and studying these vital species and their counterparts. Since the initiation of this project in August 2021, several phenology surveys, pollinator surveys, and nursery germination monitoring, soil trials, and survival and growth analysis have been completed. Improving understanding of the current distribution, abundance, and natural history of each species is enabling SEED Madagascar (SEED) to focus conservation and restoration efforts in Sainte Luce. The census findings, alongside microhabitat assessments, are informing the planting of seedlings in-situ in protected fragments of the SLLF, while seed collection and pollinator surveys continue to inform seasonality data.

Community engagement remained a key component of Project Palms. Between August 2022 and July 2023, 178 community members bordering the SLLF have participated in 12 focus groups. These meetings offered insight into palm conservation strategies as recommended by local communities. Recommended strategies for mitigating threats included community involvement (specifically awareness-raising and participation in monitoring activities), and provision of alternative resources and livelihood support.

This growth in knowledge through research and community engagement will enable SEED to develop a context-specific, community-grounded, and evidence-based Conservation Action Plan by the end of the project.

SEED is grateful once more for your ongoing support. Your commitment plays a pivotal role in advancing this essential work in the Anosy region.

A Ravinala palm in the Sainte Luce Littoral Forest

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Aug 10, 2023
Threatened Biodiversity in Madagascar

By Paris Zeikos | Project Leader

At present, SEED is undertaking three projects which focus on the protection of biodiversity in Madagascar. Project Ala works to protect the habitat of endangered lemurs; Project Palms is conserving 6 Red List palm species in Sainte Luce; and Project Oratsimba is protecting lobsters from overfishing.

Project Ala (which means forest in Malagasy), focuses on the conservation of endangered lemurs, such as the Southern Woolly Lemur and the Anosy Mouse Lemur, through reforestation in the Sainte Luce Littoral Forest (SLLF), located in the Anosy region of southeast Madagascar. Since the completion of Phase II, SEED has focused on expanding the corridors by replanting 33 Acacia seedlings in July 2022, and 5,113 native seedlings in February and March 2023. The most significant risk for the SLLF corridors is fire. In order to tackle this issue, communities surrounding the area trialled a prototype beater, with the 2023 January survey indicating that 90% of households in the surrounding area had already used fire beaters to put out fires. Cameras have also been installed in the corridor after a successful trial, to monitor the corridors and help with lemur observations. In November 2022 a Thomas’ Dwarf Lemur and four Red Collared Brown Lemurs were observed.

Project Oratsimba has continued to build the capacity of Fishery Management Committees (FMC) in Sainte Luce and Elodrato through training sessions and workshop facilitations. A successful pilot saving scheme for the Sainte Luce FMC has been established, and as of June 2023 1,000,000 MGA has been saved to meet individual saving goals. There has also been an increase in the average catch for fisheries in the communities of Sainte Luce and Elodrato. Lastly, there has been greater community engagement and awareness raising activities, thanks to a series of community cinema screenings, youth education sessions and mass mobilisation events.

Thank you again for your continued support, enabling these projects to thrive in southeast Madagascar.

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