Summary

Madagascar's forests are some of the world's biodiversity hotspots with a diverse range of endemic species, providing ecosystem services of global importance. The Magnafiafy littoral forest, situated in the Anosy region of south east Madagascar, is a severely fragmented habitat with exceptional biodiversity containing many endemic species including the critically endangered Dypsis saintelucei palm, Beccariophoenix madagascariensis palm and Phelsuma antanosy gecko. Many new species are still being discovered within this unique habitat including the Avahi meridionalis or Southern Woolly Lemur, only found as being distinct from the Avahi laniger or Eastern Woolly Lemur in 2006. However, situated as it is within one of the country's most impoverished regions, Magnafiafy is one of the world's most significantly threatened habitats, and the remaining forest now covers just 1,950 hectares.

Not only is this habitat under increasing pressure from resource dependent communities, with many farmers being forced into charcoal production due to recurrent failed harvests and drought in the south of the island, but it also faces the devastating effects of climate change: Madagascar has experienced a 10% increase in average temperature and a 10% decrease in average rainfall over the last 50 years (World Bank, 2010). Forest fragments have been identified as having played a crucial role in providing refuges for biodiversity under stressful environmental conditions in the past, increasing the importance of their conservation in light of anticipated future climate change.

Azafady's Environment Department runs several community conservation initiatives designed to protect and restore the Magnafiafy habitat, and as a result of these activities is now in a position to implement a direct species intervention for the critically endangered Dypsis saintelucei palm, Beccariophoenix madagascariensis palm and Phelsuma antanosy gecko. Dypsis saintelucei, the primary target species for this project, is thought to be endemic to Magnafiafy and has been reduced to a population of approximately 45 mature individuals restricted to two highly vulnerable fragments. Beccariophoenix madagascariensis exists in fragmented populations along the south east coast, of which the Magnafiafy population is the most genetically variable and of greatest conservation concern and potential. The two palm species currently have no observed natural seed dispersal mechanism and germination occurs within a severely limited area, increasing competition and vulnerability to external shocks like cyclones and wildfires. Meanwhile recent research suggests that Dypsis saintelucei is now the only home to the Phelsuma antanosy gecko, a species already absent from neighbouring regions as a result of loss of habitat. Azafady has therefore developed Project Telopolambilany in order to conserve the unique biodiversity found in the Magnafiafy littoral forest.

Project Aim

To facilitate the in-situ conservation of the critically endangered Dypsis saintelucei palm in its native habitat through seed collection, germination, and seedling reintroduction, and to develop the environmental reflex at local, regional and national levels through institutional support and an interactive multimedia education programme for schools and communities.

Objectives

1. Contribute to the in-situ conservation of Dypsis saintelucei in its native habitat.

2. Increase local and organisational knowledge of Magnafiafy's Beccariophoenix madagascariensis population.

3. Increase local motivation and capacity to conserve endemic and endangered species.

Principal Activities

Dypsis saintelucei seed collection, germination, and seedling reintroduction
Local communities, members of Azafady's international volunteer conservation programme (ACP) and project staff take part in Dypsis saintelucei seed and seedling collection activities. Dypsis saintelucei seeds collected from the forest are taken to Azafady's nursery and germinated. They are cultivated within the nursery for a period of 12 months, at which time they will be of sufficient maturity to be reintroduced in optimum growing conditions in their native habitat. By the end of the project Azafady aims to have reintroduced over 5,600 Dypsis saintelucei seedlings, directly contributing to the in-situ conservation of this endemic and critically endangered palm species.

Beccariophoenix madagascariensis mapping
Members of Azafady's international volunteer conservation programme are undertaking the first ever comprehensive mapping and research programme for Magnafiafy's Beccariophoenix madagascariensis population, overseen by Azafady's project staff. This will inform future projects that focus on the conservation and reintroduction of this species. As organisational knowledge of this species is increased, Azafady is able to incorporate messages about the species into the local community education programme in order to encourage conservation at community level.

Capacity building of the COBA
The forest fragment (S8) where this project is taking place has a designated local forest management committee (COBA). This structure consists of volunteers from the local community who, though not paid for their role, are responsible for upholding the protected area and are therefore in a position that is crucial to the sustainability of any conservation initiative in the area. Azafady is therefore building the capacity of the COBA by providing ongoing training and support to the committee members over the course of the project, maximising their involvement in the initiative. Azafady is also providing resources to committee members to enable them to fulfil their reporting requirements to DREF (the Regional Ministry of Forests and Environment).

Community and school education
Azafady is designing a comprehensive and innovative community and school conservation education programme. The COBA is responsible for community education but extremely limited resources have rendered this unfeasible to date. Azafady is therefore training committee members on how to conduct community education sessions, and support them in holding 6 sessions per year with 3 local communities. They are also being supported in organising forest visits for students from the 2 local schools. The schools education programme is implemented by members of the Azafady's international volunteer conservation programme (ACP), and uses visual and performance media tools and an interactive approach that maximises involvement of school students.