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Protecting the Kirindy forest in Madagascar
Since 2022, we have launched our long-term project with Chances for Nature and are helping them financially to protect the Kirindy forest and its biodiversity.
Lemurs are considered to be very unique monkeys and can only be found in Madagascar and the neighbouring small islands. 98% of lemurs are seriously threatened and almost one third of them are now threatened with extinction! Chances for Nature is committed to protecting the Kirindy forest in Madagascar, which is an important habitat for lemurs and many other animal species.
It is home to more than 200 different plant species, 82 bird species, more than 50 reptile species, and about 15 amphibian species.
Despite the official protection of this forest by Malagasy law, it still faces many threats to biodiversity, in particular slash-and-burn agriculture, charcoal production and firewood consumption, illegal and selective logging, illegal hunting of wild animals and introduced species (dogs, feral cats).
Chances for Nature’s work focuses on education and the development of more sustainable practices in cooperation with the local communities surrounding the Kirindy Forest. Since 2018, partnerships have increased with local associations working closely together on education, protection and restoration of the forest. With the covid19 pandemic, income from ecotourism has dropped, making it more difficult to protect the forest. Chances for Nature has supported local stakeholders to maintain regular forest patrols.
Here we present three protection measures that we co-finance:
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Information work
Only what we know we are willing to protect.
With a mobile bicycle cinema, Chances for Nature visits several village communities to raise awareness about the Kirindy Forest and sustainability.
Especially for children and young people, there is an educational camp ‘Little Rangers’. There they learn about the forest and animals.
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Forest monitoring and protection
To protect the forest, money is needed to pay the salaries and accommodation of the Rangers.
In addition, the Rangers need to be equipped. For example, they need to be mobile and, in the future, a smartphone should help them to monitor the terrain.
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Eco-tourism
Sustainable tourism is an opportunity to secure the future of the Kirindy Forest and at the same time create new jobs for the local population. However, to achieve this, the existing tourism infrastructure needs to be improved. The focus is also on the training of eco-guides and the improvement of animal watching opportunities.
Would you like to contribute ?
Chances for Nature is committed to preserving the diversity of animals and plants worldwide for our children to enjoy.
DONATION ACCOUNT
Chances for Nature
Bank für Sozialwirtschaft
IBAN:DE49 2512 0510 0001 6374 01
Conservation Week
Every year, during the autumn holidays, ‘La Forêt des Singes’ organises the ‘conservation week’.
The aim of this event is to raise awareness of the conservation projects supported by the park:
- Chances for Nature, which works to maintain biodiversity in the Kirindy forest in Madagascar
- BMAC (Barbary Macaque Awareness & Conservation), which is developing various educational projects for schoolchildren in Morocco to preserve the future of wild Barbary macaques and their natural habitats.
- During the conservation week, €1 from each admission ticket is donated to these two protection operations.
- The aim of this operation is to raise visitors’ awareness of the worrying situation of wild Barbary macaques and, more generally, of the decline in biodiversity.
Preserving biodiversity in the Kirindy forest in Madagascar
Madagascar is home to unique species such as lemurs, which are currently threatened by the degradation of their habitat. Chances for Nature is carrying out various actions in western Madagascar with the aim of strengthening forest protection and monitoring activities, developing environmental education and increasing income from ecotourism.
The Kirindy forest, a key refuge of biodiversity, includes more than 200 different species of plants, 82 species of birds, more than 50 species of reptiles, and about 15 species of amphibians.
Despite the official protection of this forest by Malagasy law, it still faces many threats to biodiversity, in particular slash-and-burn agriculture, charcoal production and fuelwood consumption, illegal and selective logging, illegal hunting of wild animals and introduced species (dogs, feral cats).
Chances for Nature’s work focuses on education and the development of more sustainable practices in cooperation with the local communities surrounding the Kirindy Forest. Since 2018, partnerships have increased with local associations working closely together on education, protection and restoration of the forest. With the covid19 pandemic, income from ecotourism has dropped, making it more difficult to protect the forest. Chances for Nature has supported local stakeholders to maintain regular forest patrols.
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