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Madagascar: Conservation Initiatives |
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Madagascar’s unique biodiversity has inspired many people from Gerald Durrell to John Cleese into action. The President’s Durban Vision , implemented through the Association National pour la Gestion des Aires Protégéés (ANGAP), the government body established in 1990 to administer the protected areas of the island, is an ideal vehicle through which zoos and aquariums can constructively help Madagascar conserve their own wildlife. |
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| Long term relationships with Madagascar |
| Many EAZA collections (and non-European collections) and non-governmental organisations have already been involved in long term projects within Madagascar. Here, Dr. Martin Bauert, Curator for Nature Conservation at Zoo Zürich and Dr. Alex Rübel, Director of Zoo Zürich offer advice and experience to campaign participants. |
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| EAZA Madagascar Campaign participants are invited to commit themselves to the conservation projects in Madagascar (see Section 5) also after the campaign year. The Malagasy project organisers set high hopes on the success of this EAZA scheme. Please consider a longer-term participation and join! |
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| You can find a list of possible project partners in this Info Pack (Section 4 - Protected areas and Section 5 - Supported projects). Several European zoos have already gathered experience in collaborative partnerships with nature conservation projects in Madagascar, for example the Mulhouse and Cologne zoos with Sahamalaza, Bird Park Walsrode, Allwetter Zoo Münster, Zoo Landau and Zoo Duisburg with the project Voronosy, Zoo Zürich with the Masoala National park, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust with Lake Aloatra and Menabe and various other zoos with the Betampona reserve. |
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| A long-term commitment of your institution could consist of the following: |
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Raise and donate money for the selected project over a fixed time period of several years and in return receive exciting up to date information related to the project. |
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The received information can be communicated directly to the visitor. This will boost your institution's credibility and may lead to further donations. |
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By doing so, engagement in in situ conservation becomes a reality, without the need for your institution to get involved locally. Serious Non-Governmental Organisations are your direct contact and therefore act as your representative on site. |
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Your institutions name will be carried to Madagascar. Locals and tourists will take note of your involvement. |
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A long term engagement will enrich your activities and lead to an interesting north-south-exchange. |
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You aid a substantial contribution towards nature’s conservation. |
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Dr. Martin Bauert, Curator for Nature Conservation, Zoo Zürich
Dr. Alex Rübel, Director, Zoo Zürich |
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| Models for long term relationships between zoos and other non-governmental organisations have linked with Malagasi organisations (governmental and non-governmental) to set up long term projects. Examples exist on the Sahamalaza peninsular, Betampona National Park, Ranomafama National Park, Baly Bay, Alaotra wetlands, Menabe, Masoala and Andringitra. |
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[ Click on the pictures below to find out more information on these projects. ] |
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| Sahamalaza. Photo: Dr Christoph Schwitzer, Bristol Zoo |
Betampona Rainforest. Photo: Karen Freeman |
Alaotra habitat. Photo: Joanna Durbin |
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| Baly Bay research team. Photo: Alice Smith |
Ring-tailed lemurs Catta lemur have adapted from their typical lowland forest habitats to colonize a very special ecological niche of rock ‘desert’ in the Andringitra National Park, moving according to season, temperature and availability of preferred food plants. Photo: Nick Garbutt. |
Bamboo lemurs at Ranomafana National Park. Photo: Nick Garbutt |
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| The fantastic leaf-tailed gecko Uroplatus phantasticus is amongst the rich fauna to be found on the Masoala Peninsula, the Eye of the Forest. Photo: Dr Samuel Fürrer, Zurich Zoo. |
Giant jumping rats endemic to the Central Menabe Region. Photo: Nick Garbutt. |
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| The Campaign has the ambitious target of raising €500,000 to help fund a number of conservation projects in Madagascar. This potential fund was advertised in Madagascar and conservation groups interested in Madagascar. A total of 46 projects applied to the campaign for funding, requesting a total of €901,187. The high quality of the projects meant the selection process was difficult but imperative. The applications therefore were subdivided in to categories with different focuses; education, community, habitat, research and multi-focused projects. Projects were selected from all categories to ensure an interesting and representative example of the conservation activities taking place on the island. |
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| More Information |
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| To see the standard scoring sheet used and more about the selection process |
To see the list of projects that have been selected |
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| For details of these projects |
To join the campaign, please find the form and conditions |
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