madagascar

At 587,045 km2, Madagascar is the largest oceanic island and the fourth largest island on Earth. The island nation is located approximately 400 km from the east coast of Africa and is believed to have been isolated from other landmasses for more than 160 million years.

The islands location and isolation has led to the evolution of the diverse range of habitats from dense tropical rain forests in the east to arid semi-deserts in the south-west. As a result Madagascar displays levels of species endemism (i.e. species that are found nowhere else) higher than anywhere in the world, which has led the island to be identified as one of world’s top ‘megadiversity’ countries and a foremost conservation priority area.

What is so important about Madagascar’s biodiversity is that this endemism extends to whole taxonomic families of species which are found no where else. The islands best known endemics are the Lemur families, which contains over 90 species found only in Madagascar ranging from the largest (up to 8kg) the Indri to the world’s smallest primate, Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur, which weighs 30g.

Other unique mammals include the top predator, the Fosa, a large cat-like animal most closely related to the mongooses which is equally at home in the top of a baobab as on the ground. Madagascar also contains the richest diversity of amphibian and reptile species in the world with 314 of the 340 known species of reptile being endemic, most notably the chameleons which may have originated on the island. However our knowledge of the species on Madagascar remains largely incomplete and species are constantly being described.

Madagascar’s unique and fragile ecosystems have been under considerable pressure for many years, principally from habitat destruction caused by human activities. The main threats are slash-and-burn agriculture, mining and logging (either for charcoal or construction wood). The practice of cutting forest to clear for either grazing or cultivation increased dramatically in the 1980’s and predictions indicate that unless halted most forest could be removed by 2050.

Madagascar’s wetlands represent another biodiversity resource that is being rapidly transformed. Wetlands are areas of major economic importance for the cultivation of rice, fish, and raw materials for handicrafts. The largest impact on wetlands has come from rice cultivation, which is a nationally important social and cash crop. Humans have also introduced a great diversity of species to Madagascar, many of which are having highly negative impacts. Examples include the infamous water hyacinth, which is locally known as “tetzanalika” or “dog’s bridge” for its ability to clog waterways, and fish species such as common carp and snakehead which are pushing native fish to extinction.

Durrell has been working in Madagascar since the early 1980’s and it is now our largest programme area. Our principle programmes are the conservation of the Menabe forest area, including protection of Lac Bedo which was recently declared a Ramsar site; the wetlands around Lac Alaotra including the protection of one of the world’s only wetland primates the Alaotra gentle lemur; species assessments and conservation in the Manombo forests for two of the most endangered lemurs, the white-collared brown lemur and the black and white ruffed lemur, conservation of species around Baly Bay including the famous ploughshare tortoise; community based conservation of the 19 species of endemic fish found in the Nosivolo river and conservation of the side-necked turtle and the Madagascar teal in the western wetland areas.

In all projects Durrell focuses on the development of community capacity to manage conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources. This is achieved primarily through training and capacity-building in local communities and by providing support for community led management.