MADAGASCAR
In-situ Wildlife Conservation through Research, Education and Community Development
OUR PROGRAMS
Mikajy Natiora works for a holistic approach to nature conservation through applied field research, inclusive education outreach and sustainable community development
CONSERVATIONÂ & COMMUNITY
To ensure long-term commitment and local success, we employ a four-pronged and inclusive approach to conservation.
We work closely with local communities and government agencies for research, education, reforestation, and sustainable livelihoods.
​
We see every challenge as an opportunity, and this initiative helps us ensure that our partners are better prepared to manage the unique situations they find themselves in.
We are invested in an innovative approach that empowers our community and delivers the support they need, when they need it.
CONSERVATION
Bringing Change
ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOODS
Mikajy Natiora works to provide sustainable, realistic, alternative livelihoods to local communities in order to reduce their dependence on destructive environmental practices. We work closely with the communities to enhance their capacity in agroforestry, including beekeeping and aquaculture and how to (organically!) best increase their crop yields.
We are currently working on a very exiting plan to develop a Community and Education Center on a piece of donated land from the communities around Andilambologna! Here we will be able to set up demonstration plots for organic farming so that farming communities can visit for guidance, workshops and support. This will also house a small library, educational materials, and events for younger visitors who are always welcome!
Our Research & Monitoring program works by training and employing 10 local rangers on how to non-invasively monitor lemurs groups and to continuously check for any threats within the forest. We currently have 6 full-time rangers from Mahitsihazo village, but our aim is to have 10 in total, with at least 4 from more villages surrounding Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National park and the adjacent Andilambologno forest.
Though small, our research program has been joined by both national and international researchers, from bachelors, masters and PhD levels. Our research includes all wildlife and we are currently working on a large-scale biodiversity baseline survey in the newly discovered Andilambologno forest ( which has already proved to have lemurs!). Our research on the endangered Sacred Ibis, led by a local Malagasy student for his masters, has provided extensive knowledge in their habitat distribution as well as anthrozoological insights which have proved invaluable in guiding our conservation approach.
Our research program also helped confirm the distribution of the Sambirano mouse lemur (Microcebus sambiranensis) in Sahamalaza, proving there is lots more wildlife to discover (and protect!) in Madagascar!
WILDLIFE RESEARCH
&
FOREST MONITORING
REFORESTATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION & CONSERVATION OUTREACH
We work to increase awareness of Madagascar’s biodiversity in rural and urban localities within the Sofia region and Antananarivo by educating people on lemur conservation and their threatened habitats.
We use a variety of awareness and outreach activities: essay contests, conferences and debates, contests for kids (songs, drawing, stories), sport competitions, watching lemur documentaries, carnivals, huge collective cleaning of Analalava beach and roads, as well as huge collective cleaning of schools in Antsohihy! We also produce teaching materials to distribute to local schools and always aim to make our activities interactive and suitable for adults as well.
One Tree at a Time.
Madagascar is plagued by both natural and unnatural fires during the dry seasons, which is more than devastating for the forest, its wildlife, as well as the people who depend on it. Together with our partners and local communities, we build and maintain firebreaks in the landscapes to protect forests and villages. Our Forest Rangers patrol, record, and report any forest destruction or illegal use, including burning, logging, and signs of poaching. We also work to strategically reforest areas in order to build biological corridors to increase connectivity for the wildlife, increase the productivity of a degraded forest through agroforestry, as well as to increase general forest cover and wildlife habitat. We use tree species adjusted for the climate and ideal for agroforestry, meaning both the humans and wildlife will have use of the trees to ensure long-term sustainability!
