Celebrating over 40 years of work in Madagascar
18 June 2026
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has recently celebrated a significant milestone, over 40 years of conservation work alongside the Government of Madagascar to protect the island’s extraordinary wildlife and ecosystems.
Madagascar, which is believed to be the oldest island on the planet, is one of the most biologically rich places on Earth. It is home to more than 200,000 species, with an estimated 90% found nowhere else on Earth.
Since establishing the programme in Madagascar in 1986, Durrell has grown from focusing on a single-species captive breeding initiative, to being one of the country’s most comprehensive conservation organisations. Durrell directly manages over 52,000 hectares of protected areas (Alaotra and Ambondrobe) and co-manages a further 267,000 hectares, while supporting the sustainable livelihoods of tens of thousands of Malagasy community members across multiple landscapes.
The anniversary of Durrell’s programme in Madagascar was celebrated at a ceremony hosted by His Excellency Patrick Lynch, British Ambassador to Madagascar, at his official Residence in Antananarivo. The event brought together senior government officials, diplomatic representatives, international donors and conservation partners, to mark four decades of integrated conservation and community development on one of the world’s most unique islands.
From the edge of extinction to species saved
One of Durrell’s most notable contributions in Madagascar over the last four decades is its work to save species from extinction.
The ploughshare tortoise, or angonoka, was considered the rarest tortoise on Earth, and was sadly reduced to just a handful of wild individuals when Durrell first began working with the species in 1986. Today, around a thousand ploughshare tortoises are safely protected as part of a captive breeding programme, with the aim of establishing self-sustaining wild populations in the future.
The Madagascar pochard, or fotsimaso, is a Critically Endangered duck that was believed at one point by many scientists to be functionally extinct. It was rediscovered at Bemanevika in 2006 and through extensive efforts, 125 individuals have since been released back into the wild at Lake Sofia thanks to Durrell and partners.
The Alaotran gentle lemur, or bandro, which is endemic to the shores of Lake Alaotra and found nowhere else on Earth, now has a wild population estimated at 3,500 individuals after years of extensive conservation efforts and community engagement and sensitisation activities by Durrell.
These recoveries, alongside ongoing programmes for other critically threatened species by Durrell, has been recognised internationally as hugely successful conservation achievements.
Voices from the celebration
Speaking about Durrell’s contribution to the country and achievements over the years, H.E. Patrick Lynch, British Ambassador to Madagascar commented:
“The United Kingdom is proud to have supported conservation in Madagascar for many years. The work of Durrell and its partners demonstrates that when communities are at the centre of conservation, the results are lasting. This anniversary is a testament to four decades of genuine partnership.”
Aaron Hawkins, Country Director for Durrell in Madagascar added:
“Forty years is not just a number. It is forty years of relationships built, of trust earned, of Malagasy scientists trained and empowered, of communities that have chosen to protect their extraordinary natural heritage. We are deeply proud of what has been achieved and are deeply committed to what comes next.”
Conservation and Community: An integrated approach
A defining feature which has added to the successes of Durrell’s Madagascar programme has been its commitment to integrating conservation outcomes with human development. This is an approach that has been refined over forty years and is now recognised as a global model.
One example of this is through the Jersey Overseas Aid-funded ‘Enabling Change’ project (2017–2022) and its successor programme ‘Resources for the Wellbeing of People and Nature’ (2023–2027), or VALIHA.
As part of these programmes, Durrell has worked across three focal landscapes; Alaotra, Baly Bay, and Sofia. Here, they have been supporting communities to improve food security, build financial independence through Village Savings and Loan Associations, strengthen local governance, enhance community health, and support locally-led ecosystem restoration.
The current programme VALHIA is working towards the improved wellbeing of 24,000 people across 38 villages by 2027. Since 2018, more than 330 Village Savings and Loan Associations have been established, with demand consistently exceeding the programme’s capacity to support new groups. This is a signal that the communities are now driving this process themselves.
Edward Lewis, Executive Director, Jersey Overseas Aid said:
“Jersey Overseas Aid’s investment in Madagascar is an investment in the future of conservation itself. The communities of Alaotra, Baly Bay, and Sofia have shown what is possible when people are trusted with the resources and authority to protect their own natural world.”
Christopher Antony Paneva, Directeur de l’Unité de Coordination des Organismes Rattachés, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development added:
“La biodiversité de Madagascar est notre fiertié nationale et notre responsabilité la plus lourde. Quarante ans de Durrell à Madagascar, c’est quarante ans de partenariat authentique avec nos institutions et nos communautés. Nous sommes fiers de cette collaboration et engagés à la renforcer pour les décennies à venir.”
Looking ahead: The next chapter
Speaking at the ceremony, Durrell’s CEO Rebecca Brewer outlined an ambitious vision for the next phase of the Madagascar programme: one centred on Malagasy leadership, deepened government partnership, scaled community-based conservation, and the integration of climate resilience into all programming.