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Madagascar papers presented at Conservation Biology conference in Brazil Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology July 27, 2005 Below is a sampling of some Madagascar-related papers submitted for the conference. All descriptions are excepts from the official "Book of Abstracts" from the meeting. More abstracts. RAKOTOMALAZA, PIERRE J.; McKnight, Meghan; Powell, George; Tomasek, Adam J. Programme Ala Maiky, Toliara, Madagascar (PJR). Curriculum in Ecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA (MWM). WWF Conservation Science Program, WWF US, Washington DC, 20037 USA (GVNP). WWF Endangered Spaces Program, WWF US, Washington DC, 20037 USA (AJT) adam.tomasek((AT))wwfus.org. The spiny forest of southwestern Madagascar's Mikea region forms a transition between dry deciduous forest to the north and spiny desert to the south. The region is noted as a conservation priority due to its high levels of plant endemism and diversity. However, the paucity of quantitative information regarding spatial patterns of diversity has made it difficult to delineate protected area boundaries that adequately represent Mikea's floristic heterogeneity. We use recently compiled vegetation data to determine the extent needed to capture the floristic uniqueness of the region. To quantify the rate and direction of compositional change and identify representation targets, we employ site dissimilarity indices and hierarchical clustering methods based on both presence-absence and relative abundance data. The heterogeneity of the region is extremely high, with 7 of the 13 sites needing individual representation. Site associations and the rate and direction of change differ markedly between the two data types. Compositional change quantified using presence-absence data is correlated with latitude, while change based on abundance data has a longitudinal trend. Conservation of the Mikea region must address the processes driving both a north-south turnover of species identities and an east-west change in community structure DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, HABITAT, AND THREATS OF THE ALAOTRAN GENTLE LEMUR (Hapalemur griseus alaotrensis). Ralainasolo, Bruno F.; Andrianandrasana, Herizo; Ratsimbazafy, Jonah; Durbin, Joanna C.; Randriamahefasoa, Jonah; RASOAMAMPIANINA, VANESSA. Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust - Madagascar Program, B.P. 8511, Antananarivo101, Madagascar (BFR, HA, JHR, JCD, JR),. Hapalemur griseus alaotrensis is only found in the marshes of Lac Alaotra, central Madagascar, and is considered to be one of the world's most endangered primates. To evaluate the distribution status and habitat of this species we conducted censuses of the lemur population in four sites in 2001 and 2002. Study methods involved direct lemur observations, and mapping of marsh habitats. Results from this study indicate that the lemurs are only present in marshes that have not been burned for more than three years. Encounter rates were also lower in sites where lemurs were hunted. Marsh burning and hunting were identified as the main threats to the species survival. The area of marshes burned reduced from 7,300 ha in 2000, 4,430 ha in 2001 to 392 ha of the total marsh area in 2002. We recommend the establishment of a strict protected area to protect the lemurs from hunting and burning CONTRIBUTION OF THE RED LIST INDEX TO MEASURING SUCCESS ON BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION: THE CASE FOR MADAGASCAR. KNOX, DAVID; Andriamaro, L.; Brooks, Thomas; Hawkins, F.; Kennedy, E.; Langhammer, Penny; Rabarison, H.; Rakotobe, Z.; Randrianasolo, H.H.; Vynne, S. Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, Conservation International, 1919 M St, NW, Suite 600 Washington DC 20036, USA, d.knox((AT))conservation.org (DHK, TMB, PL). Conservation International - Madagascar, 6 Rue Razafindratandra, PO Box 5178 Antananarivo, 101, Madagascar (LA, FH, HR, ZR, HHR). Conservation International, 1919 M St. NW Suite 600 Washington DC 20036, USA. (EK, SV). Through the Convention on Biological Diversity, many nations of the world have agreed to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010. How can we measure changes in the rate of biodiversity loss to track our progress towards this target? Here, we use data from the IUCN Red List to derive a Red List Index (RLI) for the birds, mammals and amphibians of Madagascar. The RLI uses the number of species in each Red List category and tracks the number of species that change categories between assessments due to a genuine improvement or deterioration in status. This study is the first to apply the RLI a cross taxa at a sub-global scale, and reveals continuing deterioration in the status of Madagascar's fauna over the last two decades. The development of RLIs at regional or national scales is one of the most robust indicators that governments can use to report on progress in their contribution to reducing biodiversity loss. We hope that cases where negative RLIs are found will spur further investment in the conservation of species at high extinction risk and of the habitats where they occur - as has happened over the last two years in Madagascar BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE USE IN NORTHEASTERN MADAGASCAR: MAKIRA FOREST CONSERVATION AREA PROJECT. Crowley, Helen; Meyers, David; HOLMES, CHRISTOPHER; Sesy, Soja; Jaozandry, Jean Jacques. Wildlife Conservation Society, International Conservation, B.P Soavimbahoaka, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar, wscmad((AT)) wanadoo.mg (HC, DM). Wildlife Conservation Society, Project Makira, Tanambao, Maroantsetra, Madagascar, makira((AT))uuplus.com (CH, SS JJJ). The Madagascar government plans to triple its protected area network from 1.7 million hectares to 6 million hectares within 5 years to ensure that 10% of Madagascar's surface area is managed for biodiversity conservation. The Makira Conservation Site is an important first step in this expansion as it encompasses 350,000 hectares of pristine rainforest in northeastern Madagascar. Makira will become the largest protected area in the country and part of the Antongil conservation landscape: a landscape of forest, marine and coastal habitats. It has been estimated that this landscape could contain 50% of Madagascar's biodiversity. Makira includes priority conservation zones and regulated multiple-use areas, and is surrounded by forests in which resource management responsibilities have been or are being transferred to communities via contracts with the government. This combination constitutes a new approach to the seemingly conflicting issues of biodiversity protection and sustainable resource use in Madagascar. To date, resource management transfers have been carried out in ten communities; influencing the livelihoods of 10,500 inhabitants and covering 50,000 hectares of agricultural and forested land. This paper will outline the process used to zone the conservation area and establish community management, and how these processes fit with national level conservation planning BUILDING CAPACITY AND MEASURING IMPACTS - THE TBA'S EXPERIENCE IN AFRICA AND MADAGASCAR. TREVELYAN, ROSIE. Tropical Biology Association, Department of Zoology, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, U.K. The Tropical Biology Association (TBA) is building capacity at the individual and institutional level for conservation research and training in Africa. TBA has run 35 training courses over the past 10 years and counts 800 as alumni from over 37 countries. TBA's unique model of field training brings together Africans and Europeans in equal numbers. This provides a valuable forum where different nationalities can learn from each other's experiences, and creates a network for future collaborative activities. To maximise impact, all trainees are then enrolled in a programme of follow-up support so that they can put their new skills and contacts into practise when they return to their home institutions. TBA has recently conducted a needs assessment of the training capacity of African institutions, and as a result is initiating a new programme focusing on developing staff skills in fund-raising, project management, and publishing results. The challenges of assessing the impact of capacity building activities and the methods that the TBA uses will be discussed. There are limitations of short-term compared with long-term assessments, and it is difficult and costly to instigate controls, and long term impacts may only be apparent after a funding cycle has concluded Society for Conservation Biology - Brasilia 2005 News index | RSS | News Feed Advertisements: Organic Apparel from Patagonia | Insect-repelling clothing |
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