The humid forest in Mangabe showing both the closed canopy vegetation used by lemurs and the encroaching patches of agriculture. © Evan Bowen-Jones.
Mantella aurantiaca the golden mantella frog – most of the global population of this species is found in the Mangabe forest that the The Rufford Foundation is helping Madagasikara Voakajy to conserve. © Evan Bowen-Jones.
In 2009/10, The Rufford Foundation provided a grant of £20,000 to Madgasikara Voakajy.
The Rufford Foundation has been supporting the conservation efforts of Madagasikara Voakajy since 2009. The project aims to empower communities to develop local institutions and incentives that benefit both livelihoods and biodiversity, leading to the long-term protection of the rainforest at Mangabe.
Major achievements to date have included the establishment of four new community-based associations and the development of provisional forest management plans. Efforts have focussed on promoting the sustainable use of certain forest products, such as edible frogs, and on reducing the extent of illegal hunting. We found evidence that over 130 lemurs were illegally trapped over the previous 2 years, with many more likely to have been killed with firearms or blowdarts. Madagasikara Voakajy is now working with the government and communities to establish the site as a sustainable use protected area, which will take at least another 3 years to achieve. Major challenges include preventing illegal artisanal gold mining, illegal logging and nurturing community groups to be effective and independent.
In 2010, our main objective is to integrate biodiversity conservation objectives into local by-laws, with a specific focus on reducing lemur poaching, protecting critically endangered amphibian habitats and assisting the community groups prepare for their triennial evaluation by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The support from The Rufford Foundation is an essential component of our efforts and is making a real difference to people and biodiversity in Mangabe.
