New research station protects Madagascar forest from the inside out

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Madagascar is renowned for its rich and unique fauna and flora. With more than 80% of its species found nowhere else on earth, the country has more unique species than any comparably sized landmass. Hone in on the southeast and you will find Tsitongambarika Forest, an Important Bird & Biodiversity Area.

“Walking through the forests provides a wildlife experience like no other”, explains Roger Safford, BirdLife’s Preventing Extinctions Programme Manager, and author of ‘Birds of Madagascar’. 

It is not just wildlife that rely on this special habitat. The forests provide local people with valuable materials such as firewood, charcoal and timber, and facilitate the area’s water supply from rivers that originate here.

In 2015, efforts to save the forest were boosted by the launch of Ampasy Research Station. The research station is in a beautiful location on the edge of the forest, soundtracked by the quiet ‘conversations’ of lemurs, frogs and birds, the gentle buzz of insects and gurgling water. 

The station has three main objectives: to enable in situ study of local species and habitat; offer environmental education to the local communities; and to conserve and restore the surrounding forests and species within.

A recent paper published in Oryx and led by Dr Giuseppe Donati from Oxford Brookes University has shown that threats, particularly from hunting, have decreased locally since the beginning of Asity’s work in Tsitongambarika, and decreased again since the establishment of the research station. Deforestation has also reduced, with forest cover around Ampasy remaining visibly intact over the same period.

Source: https://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/news/new-research-station-protects-madagascar-forest-inside-out

[River 127,572]

Madagascar

Inside Out

 

It's so nice to read to these kind of articles, nature is a gem.

[Earthling 3,702]

Thanks for sharing 

Stuff like this gives me hope 

[LaMaisonGaga 23,884]

aw good! 

[Xoxo Adriana 15,040]

1 hour ago, River said:

Madagascar

Inside Out

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