In January 2025 our team in Madagascar has embarked on a vital new three-year project at one of our main project sites. The extensive programme of activities, made possible thanks to the support of IUCN Save Our Species, is a continuation, and expansion, of a project previously supported by them in the same area. It will be carried out by our team working alongside the communities that live in and around the Andriantantely lowland rainforest.
Village in Andriantantely © Maholy Ravaloharimanitra, The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar
The earlier projects from 2017-2022, supported by IUCN Save Our Species, enabled us to manage local community-led conservation initiatives that resulted in an overall population increase of approximately 25% over 4 Critically Endangered lemur species, and we secured 3,000 hectares of forest and initiated reforestation of 150 hectares through the instigation of Transfer of Management contracts. These were important results, but it takes time to generate long lasting impact, and other factors often influence outcomes, such as the effects of climate change. We believe results to date show that conservation success is achievable, provided sufficient time and developmental support is provided to local communities.
Andriantantely is one of the first areas where we established projects when we began working in Madagascar in 2009. It is recognised as a protected area and it extends into five different rural communities. Whilst it is one of the largest remaining lowland rainforest fragments the proximity of human populations results in the area being largely surrounded by agricultural land, which creates ongoing pressure from slash-and-burn agriculture, illegal logging and hunting.
Greater Bamboo Lemur © Hery Randriahaingo, The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar
The area is of significant importance to one particular Critically Endangered lemur as there are approximately 4,000 hectares of bamboo thicket, a vital food source for the greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus), which is one of four lemur species our project will target. Many of the project activities will support the conservation of this lemur, but of particular concern in the area is the damage being caused to the bamboo by invasive plant species. Our team will work with the local communities to remove areas affected to help restore the bamboo thickets.
The three other lemur species that will be the focus of activites are all Critically Endangered. They are: black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata), diademed sifaka(Propithecus diadema); and indri (Indri indri).
Diademed Sifaka © Hery Randriahaingo, The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar
One of the main elements of the project will be establishing Transfer of Management contracts for 5 of the 7 VOIs in the area. VOIs are the local community associations responsible for specific areas of land. These will be renewals of contracts that have now expired as they are only valid for a few years, but they are a crucial element of successful conservation initiatives at a local level. Once offically recognised by the Malagasy government to act on behalf of their communities the VOIs assume responsibility for natural resource management, including the protection of the areas identified for conservation and forest restoration, and the management of other areas for the customary rights usage of the local population.
Cultivating saplings in Andriantantely © Hery Randriahaingo, The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar
Project activities are open to all members of the community. For example, forest restoration includes local lemur patrollers collecting seedlings, community members caring for the saplings, and everyone, including children, participating in transplanting the young trees into areas of degraded forest.
Community Transplantation Day – Andriantantely © Hery Randriahaingo, The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar
The rural communities are highly dependent on natural resources for food and income. Madagascar is also one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the impact of climate change. In particular, rainfall patterns have changed considerably and cyclones are more intense leading to flooding and landslides. Rural communities are subsistence farmers, and the effects of poor agricultural practices such as slash-and-burn are now worsened by the increasing unpredictability of the weather.
Harvesting bananas © Maholy Ravaloharimanitra, The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar
With rural communities facing such immense difficulties it is natural there is a tendency to react by returning to unsustainable practices. Yet local people are at the heart of conservation success provided they receive sufficient support. We are delighted to be able to provide this project in collaboration with IUCN Save Our Species because it will concentrate on community development across all genders and age groups. Training and practical support will enable climate-smart agricultural practices and improve both the diversity of food products grown and its market value. In addition school market gardens will ensure inclusivity of young and future generations and provide much needed food for school meals.
Indri © The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar
At the same time lemurs will be better protected as Protected Zones will be established through the Transfer of Management contracts and will benefit from regular patrols by local lemur rangers. Furthermore their habitat will be improved by forest restoration and invasive species removal.
Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur © The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar
There is a lot of work to be carried out over the next three years and our team will be working with local and national authorities, schools and the population of the resident communities throughout.
As the project progresses we hope to bring you more detail on all the component parts of the various activities. For now we would like to end by saying again that we are grateful to IUCN for their support. IUCN Save Our Species aims to improve the long-term survival prospects of threatened species. It also focuses on supporting the species' habitats and working with the communities who share this habitat. It achieves success by funding and coordinating conservation projects into multiple initiatives across the globe.