Help protect the endangered Lemurs of Vohimana
Donation protected
HELP PROTECT THE ENDANGERED LEMURS OF VOHIMANA
Madagascar has extraordinary levels of endemism and species richness and is one of the eight world’s most important biodiversity hotspots.
Lemurs are endemic primates inhabiting Madagascan forests.
Slash-and-burn agriculture, illegal logging, mining, and poaching threaten Madagascan forests and therefore lemur survival.
95% of lemur species are on the brink of extinction and the biology, distribution and population status of several species are still poorly known.
Vohimana is one of the remaining eastern montane rainforests. It is located at [phone redacted]m of altitude, in the heart of the Ankeniheny-Zahamena corridor, a forest corridor that has a crucial ecological function between the remaining eastern forests and whose preservation is an ecological priority in Madagascar.
Since 2002, the Malagasy NGO “L’Homme et l’Environnement” manages the Vohimana reserve. The reserve covers a surface of 2190 ha, of which 554ha covered by natural forest. The natural forest is surrounded by degraded vegetation areas such as recolonized bush, cultivated, fallow and residential areas.
Vohimana habitat had long been subject to strong anthropogenic disturbance. Slash-and-burn agriculture and logging for firewood and charcoal production severely fragmented and impacted the forest, which is still under pressure by human activities. 90 ha have been reforested in 2007-2017, but 235 ha have been destroyed in 2013-2017. Between 2009 and 2010, the reserve was strongly impacted by the creation of the road and the embankment for the installation of a mining pipeline (the “Ambatovy” Project), leaving clear marks in the landscape and with potentially negative consequences on the fauna. Moreover, lemur poaching for local consumption is a limited but still ongoing phenomenon for most species.
Vohimana has high levels of biodiversity and endemism and is home to two critically endangered lemurs: the indri (Indri indri) and the diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema).
Twelve lemur species potentially inhabit the forest, including two rare species which possibly disappeared in the last few years (Varecia variegata, Allocebus trichotis).
The nocturnal lemurs are poorly known and at present, no quantitative data on lemur populations are available.
A pilot study was launched in April 2018. Now we need to collect data for one year in order to comprehend seasonal fluctuations of lemur detectability and provide reliable results.
What activities will be carried out?
Lemurs presence and density will be investigated using diurnal and nocturnal surveys along 16 transects in the forest, according to the line-transect distance sampling method. We will use pre-existing forest trails that cross most reserve vegetation types. Transects will be walked from 07:30 am to 12:00 am and from 06:00 pm to 09:00 pm by a local guide and a researcher or a trained field assistant.
At every lemur sighting, we will collect ecological and behavioural data such as time, temperature, humidity, GPS location, species name, group size, distance from the transect and behaviour. We will use binoculars, sound recorders and cameras to confirm species identification.
At night, we will locate lemurs with head-torches thanks to their eyeshine. We will then identify species with a spotlight hand-held torch and measure the distance with a laser distance meter.
Presence of the elusive and rare aye-aye will be estimated on the basis of gnaw marks and nests observations.
Data will be analysed statistically with the R software.
All methods are non-invasive and comply with the “International Primatological Society Guidelines for the Use of Nonhuman Primates in Research”.
Which are the research goals?
This project aims to:
1) provide the lemur inventory
2) estimate the density and population size of diurnal and nocturnal lemur species
3) evaluate habitat use and the anthropogenic disturbance effects on lemur population (pipeline, logging, slash-and-burn practice, edge effects)
Why is this research so important?
This project is crucial for the conservation of Vohimana lemurs as we may make recommendations based on quantitative data that could be relevant to the design of conservation interventions
The presence of species reported absent could enhance ecotourism in the reserve and provide indications to the forest managers for the creation of new trails. Population size and density estimates are of key importance for forest managers as the finding of local extinction or rarity of a species could trigger the set up of specific reintroduction and reforestation plans.
This project is also intended to constitute the beginning of a long-term monitoring of the lemurs in the area, which will contribute to deepening the knowledge on the ecology and distribution of poorly studied species.
Our presence in the field will guarantee stable incomes to part of the local community (cooks, guides, porters, guardian and indirectly farmers) in a region with a poverty rate of the 72,2% and where communities subsist on agriculture and small-scale livestock raising.
Furthermore, spreading our results to the wider conservation community through publications will draw the attention of universities and research institutes to this forest.
A stronger presence of researchers and tourists will serve as a deterrent for illegal loggers and hunters in a forest that does not have a Protection Area status.
Where will the funds go?
We ask for funds to support:
· Accommodation fees in Antananarivo
· Local transport fees (capital city-forest bus)
· Fieldwork facilities in the forest: cook, local guides, porters, accommodation
· Equipment: 2x Garmin GPS devices, 3x Laser distance meters, 2x digital hygrometers, 4x waterproof ponchos for local guides, rechargeable batteries and rechargers
Who we are?
Alessio Anania (project leader) holds an M.Sc. of Animal Behaviour. With an overall 13-month fieldwork experience in Madagascar, he has been working on lemurs in the wild since 2014, studying the vocal behavior of different species. In the past, he has collaborated with the University of Torino (Italy), the German Primate Center (Germany), the Toulouse III “Paul Sabatier” University (France), the “G.E.R.P.” and “L’Homme et l’Environnement” NGOs (Madagascar).
Dr. Jordi Salmona (scientific supervisor) is an Associate Researcher at the Toulouse III “Paul Sabatier” University (France). He holds a Ph.D. from the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Portugal). Since 2009, his research mainly focuses on population genetics, demography, natural history and distribution of lemurs.
Megan MacDonald (field assistant) recently graduated from the University of Victoria (Canada) with a B.Sc. of Biology.
Teo Giubilato (field assistant) holds an M.Sc. of Nature Conservation (University of Parma, Italy). In the last years, he has been volunteering in several protected areas in Europe (Italy, Croatia, Iceland).
Loïc Sauvadet (field assistant) is a student in agronomy engineering school at Montpellier SupAgro (France). He is specialized in sustainable agriculture for developing countries.
Sara Corsetti (fundraising manager) obtained an M.Sc. of Ecobiology. She carried on a personal project on dogs and worked in the Orangutan Health Project in Indonesia.
Rakotomanantsoa, Jean-Aimé Rajanarivelo, and Justin Lekamisy are local guides assisting researchers and volunteers in Vohimana for over 10 years.
Acknowledgments
A grateful thank to the "L'Homme et l'Environnement" NGO (Olivier Behra, Sophie Rakotomalala, Julien Rajaonarison, Erito Andriantsitoherina) for permitting this study and providing information and accommodation. We are also very grateful to Delphine Roullet, Saroy Rasoloson, Nabih Day, Emmanuel Rasolondraibe and Jeanine. This study cannot be possible without the friendly collaboration of the local community, especially the people of the Ambavaniasy and Vohimana villages and the local association MERCIE VOHIMANA. In 2017, the pilot study was granted by “Le Conservatoire pour la Protection des Primates” ("La Vallée des Singes Primate Conservation and Research Grant”).
Web resources
Vohimana Reserve:
https://www.vohimana.com
https://m.facebook.com/vohimana/?locale2=fr_FR
Vohimana Lemurs project
https://www.facebook.com/vohimanalemurs/
Madagascar has extraordinary levels of endemism and species richness and is one of the eight world’s most important biodiversity hotspots.
Lemurs are endemic primates inhabiting Madagascan forests.
Slash-and-burn agriculture, illegal logging, mining, and poaching threaten Madagascan forests and therefore lemur survival.
95% of lemur species are on the brink of extinction and the biology, distribution and population status of several species are still poorly known.
Vohimana is one of the remaining eastern montane rainforests. It is located at [phone redacted]m of altitude, in the heart of the Ankeniheny-Zahamena corridor, a forest corridor that has a crucial ecological function between the remaining eastern forests and whose preservation is an ecological priority in Madagascar.
Since 2002, the Malagasy NGO “L’Homme et l’Environnement” manages the Vohimana reserve. The reserve covers a surface of 2190 ha, of which 554ha covered by natural forest. The natural forest is surrounded by degraded vegetation areas such as recolonized bush, cultivated, fallow and residential areas.
Vohimana habitat had long been subject to strong anthropogenic disturbance. Slash-and-burn agriculture and logging for firewood and charcoal production severely fragmented and impacted the forest, which is still under pressure by human activities. 90 ha have been reforested in 2007-2017, but 235 ha have been destroyed in 2013-2017. Between 2009 and 2010, the reserve was strongly impacted by the creation of the road and the embankment for the installation of a mining pipeline (the “Ambatovy” Project), leaving clear marks in the landscape and with potentially negative consequences on the fauna. Moreover, lemur poaching for local consumption is a limited but still ongoing phenomenon for most species.
Vohimana has high levels of biodiversity and endemism and is home to two critically endangered lemurs: the indri (Indri indri) and the diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema).
Twelve lemur species potentially inhabit the forest, including two rare species which possibly disappeared in the last few years (Varecia variegata, Allocebus trichotis).
The nocturnal lemurs are poorly known and at present, no quantitative data on lemur populations are available.
A pilot study was launched in April 2018. Now we need to collect data for one year in order to comprehend seasonal fluctuations of lemur detectability and provide reliable results.
What activities will be carried out?
Lemurs presence and density will be investigated using diurnal and nocturnal surveys along 16 transects in the forest, according to the line-transect distance sampling method. We will use pre-existing forest trails that cross most reserve vegetation types. Transects will be walked from 07:30 am to 12:00 am and from 06:00 pm to 09:00 pm by a local guide and a researcher or a trained field assistant.
At every lemur sighting, we will collect ecological and behavioural data such as time, temperature, humidity, GPS location, species name, group size, distance from the transect and behaviour. We will use binoculars, sound recorders and cameras to confirm species identification.
At night, we will locate lemurs with head-torches thanks to their eyeshine. We will then identify species with a spotlight hand-held torch and measure the distance with a laser distance meter.
Presence of the elusive and rare aye-aye will be estimated on the basis of gnaw marks and nests observations.
Data will be analysed statistically with the R software.
All methods are non-invasive and comply with the “International Primatological Society Guidelines for the Use of Nonhuman Primates in Research”.
Which are the research goals?
This project aims to:
1) provide the lemur inventory
2) estimate the density and population size of diurnal and nocturnal lemur species
3) evaluate habitat use and the anthropogenic disturbance effects on lemur population (pipeline, logging, slash-and-burn practice, edge effects)
Why is this research so important?
This project is crucial for the conservation of Vohimana lemurs as we may make recommendations based on quantitative data that could be relevant to the design of conservation interventions
The presence of species reported absent could enhance ecotourism in the reserve and provide indications to the forest managers for the creation of new trails. Population size and density estimates are of key importance for forest managers as the finding of local extinction or rarity of a species could trigger the set up of specific reintroduction and reforestation plans.
This project is also intended to constitute the beginning of a long-term monitoring of the lemurs in the area, which will contribute to deepening the knowledge on the ecology and distribution of poorly studied species.
Our presence in the field will guarantee stable incomes to part of the local community (cooks, guides, porters, guardian and indirectly farmers) in a region with a poverty rate of the 72,2% and where communities subsist on agriculture and small-scale livestock raising.
Furthermore, spreading our results to the wider conservation community through publications will draw the attention of universities and research institutes to this forest.
A stronger presence of researchers and tourists will serve as a deterrent for illegal loggers and hunters in a forest that does not have a Protection Area status.
Where will the funds go?
We ask for funds to support:
· Accommodation fees in Antananarivo
· Local transport fees (capital city-forest bus)
· Fieldwork facilities in the forest: cook, local guides, porters, accommodation
· Equipment: 2x Garmin GPS devices, 3x Laser distance meters, 2x digital hygrometers, 4x waterproof ponchos for local guides, rechargeable batteries and rechargers
Who we are?
Alessio Anania (project leader) holds an M.Sc. of Animal Behaviour. With an overall 13-month fieldwork experience in Madagascar, he has been working on lemurs in the wild since 2014, studying the vocal behavior of different species. In the past, he has collaborated with the University of Torino (Italy), the German Primate Center (Germany), the Toulouse III “Paul Sabatier” University (France), the “G.E.R.P.” and “L’Homme et l’Environnement” NGOs (Madagascar).
Dr. Jordi Salmona (scientific supervisor) is an Associate Researcher at the Toulouse III “Paul Sabatier” University (France). He holds a Ph.D. from the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Portugal). Since 2009, his research mainly focuses on population genetics, demography, natural history and distribution of lemurs.
Megan MacDonald (field assistant) recently graduated from the University of Victoria (Canada) with a B.Sc. of Biology.
Teo Giubilato (field assistant) holds an M.Sc. of Nature Conservation (University of Parma, Italy). In the last years, he has been volunteering in several protected areas in Europe (Italy, Croatia, Iceland).
Loïc Sauvadet (field assistant) is a student in agronomy engineering school at Montpellier SupAgro (France). He is specialized in sustainable agriculture for developing countries.
Sara Corsetti (fundraising manager) obtained an M.Sc. of Ecobiology. She carried on a personal project on dogs and worked in the Orangutan Health Project in Indonesia.
Rakotomanantsoa, Jean-Aimé Rajanarivelo, and Justin Lekamisy are local guides assisting researchers and volunteers in Vohimana for over 10 years.
Acknowledgments
A grateful thank to the "L'Homme et l'Environnement" NGO (Olivier Behra, Sophie Rakotomalala, Julien Rajaonarison, Erito Andriantsitoherina) for permitting this study and providing information and accommodation. We are also very grateful to Delphine Roullet, Saroy Rasoloson, Nabih Day, Emmanuel Rasolondraibe and Jeanine. This study cannot be possible without the friendly collaboration of the local community, especially the people of the Ambavaniasy and Vohimana villages and the local association MERCIE VOHIMANA. In 2017, the pilot study was granted by “Le Conservatoire pour la Protection des Primates” ("La Vallée des Singes Primate Conservation and Research Grant”).
Web resources
Vohimana Reserve:
https://www.vohimana.com
https://m.facebook.com/vohimana/?locale2=fr_FR
Vohimana Lemurs project
https://www.facebook.com/vohimanalemurs/
Organizer and beneficiary
Sara Corsetti
Organizer
Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome
Alessio Anania
Beneficiary
