One of the activities of our project in Andriantantely, which has been made possible thanks to the support of IUCN Save Our Species, is to support the development of local rangers.
Field Coordinator Haingo Working with Rangers on Patrol © The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar
Monitoring the Ecosystem
At the start of the project 25 individuals from across the communities at the project site were employed as lemur patrollers. The rangers are working in 12 sites, 4 days per week for the whole duration of the project. They are involved in a range of activities but two of the main aspects of their work are:
• To monitor lemur populations. The data they collect is used to assess population changes during the project period, and to gain a better understanding of lemur ecology, and identify limiting factors for population growth.
• To monitor and deter illegal activities in the protected areas.
The rangers receive training on what is legal and what is not, and how, and to whom, to report observed infractions, from representatives of the appropriate Ministry. In addition, our team provide training on wildlife, with a focus on lemur species. As part of this project ranger skills are being further enhanced to include Smartphone technology.
Training Rangers on Smartphone Technology © The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar
The Benefits of Training Local Rangers
Patrols act as a strong deterrent to illegal activities and significantly reduce illegal logging, slash-and-burn agriculture and the setting of animal traps. However, empowering local community members to take on the role of ranger has additional benefits:
• Direct employment of individuals providing a stable income for the duration of the project
• Development of skills for local people
• Community patrollers successfully integrate localised cultural rules and traditional taboos into formal biodiversity regulations.
• Local rangers can increase community engagement through locally-led protection which transforms the lemur from an animal targeted for the pet trade or bushmeat into a source of community pride
• Local rangers serve as a positive example of conservation in their own villages, helping to reinforce school programmes and public awareness campaigns to inspire the current and future generations
Impact of Patrols on Illegal Activities
By observing, reporting, and taking action where appropriate the rangers have a tangible impact on reducing the threats posed by illegal activities on vital habitat and endangered wildlife.
Planks obtained by the illegal cutting of trees © The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar
When a control mission was carried out at Lanonana to investigate illegal timber harvesting 32 planks of native trees were confiscated. The individuals involved were informed that they were strictly prohibited from selling or removing the confiscated timber to any other location. It was agreed that the timber would remain the property of the VOI and would be allocated for the needs of the village school.
When gold mining sites were identified in rice fields that were within the buffer zone of the protected area, action was taken. Although the buffer zone is technically a neutral strip of land adjacent to the protected zone all mining activities in these areas are prohibited. In recognition that the land fell outside the main area of protection a mutually acceptable solution was reached. The local miners were granted a period of two months to recover the material that had already been extracted and to restore the affected rice fields.
Evidence of Bamboo Cutting © The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar
In some cases, it is not possible to identify the perpetrator. Instead, patrollers obtain photographic evidence and record the date and GPS location of the incident. Depending on the circumstances further targeted patrols may be scheduled for the area to deter further activities
The rangers lodge patrol reports with the relevant VOI, and notifications are also provided to Ministry officials who, in some cases, follow up with legal action.
The Importance of Preventing Illegal Activities in Protected Zones
Madagascar is a unique Biodiversity Hotspot. Over 90% of the island's wildlife and 80% of its plants exist nowhere else on Earth. Lemurs are unique to Madagascar, but habitat loss and hunting are driving more than 90% of the approximately 100 currently existing lemur species to the point of extinction.
Black and White Ruffed Lemur © The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar
Our project combines enhancing the conservation of critical habitat in protected zones whilst supporting local communities to adapt to climate-smart agricultural techniques and generate new incomes from diversifying crop production in customary use zones. The result of combining these activities will be to help stabilise populations of unique species, secure the future of vital wild habitats, and assist local communities to transition from subsistence to sustainable lifestyles that are more resilient to the impacts of climate change
Conclusion
Time is rapidly running out for Madagascar to save its lemurs. The impacts of climate change are increasing the pressure for survival. The one hope is that an answer is available through combining the needs of both remaining wild habitats and the communities that surround them. We are grateful to IUCN for their support with this project which has activities that can make a difference.
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 that share this habitat. It achieves success by funding and coordinating conservation projects into multiple initiatives across the globe.