Wildlife Conservation Madagascar Project #56044

Threatened biodiversity in Madagascar

by SEED Madagascar

Project Report | Mar 25, 2025
Six-Month Progress Report: Ala Programme Phase III

By Lili Ricke | UK Programmes and Office Intern

The Sainte Luce Fire and Its Impact on Ala

In January 2025, a fire coming from Esohihy spread to Sainte Luce, severely affecting the Ala Forest corridors and the S8 forest fragment. Strong winds and an extended dry season fuelled the fire, highlighting Madagascar’s vulnerability to climate change and extreme weather conditions. Sainte Luce’s hamlets remained safe, but the fire breached firebreaks, damaging critical habitat corridors. While corridors 1, 3, and 4 remained largely intact, (though 84% of native seedlings were lost), corridors 2 and 5 suffered extensive damage.

Nevertheless, despite the fire, 60% of Acacia trees in affected corridors began regenerating by February 2025, and Ala Phase 3 made significant progress in habitat restoration, seedling propagation, and community engagement. There have been three lemur sightings throughout Ala Phase 3 in Corridor 3, demonstrating the success of habitat restoration efforts. Additionally, community-led conservation activities, including firebreak maintenance and reforestation initiatives, were strengthened, laying a foundation for long-term resilience.

Fire Recovery Plan

Immediate recovery efforts include ramping up seedling collection and replanting. More than 3,700 native seedlings will be replanted in intact corridors by March 2025, while replanting in Corridor 5 is scheduled for April or May. Plans to relocate Corridor 2 and expand Corridors 4 and 5 will be assessed, with implementation likely in 2026. New monitoring initiatives will track forest recovery, and alternative fast-growing species will be explored.

Learnings and Future Strategies

The fire underscores the importance of comprehensive firebreaks and enhanced fire mitigation strategies. SEED will work with FIMPIA to improve firebreak coverage and expand fire prevention outreach. Increased community mobilization and fire management training remain priorities to strengthen resilience against wildfires. Additionally, the knowledge and infrastructure built during Ala Phase 3 will be leveraged to accelerate reforestation efforts and reinforce community-led conservation initiatives. Recent lemur sightings reaffirm the effectiveness of habitat restoration, and future conservation strategies will prioritize maintaining and expanding these corridors to support long-term species survival.

Thank you for your continued support!

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Nov 27, 2024
Pathways to Conservation: Lemurs, Palms, and Community Action

By Samantha Grunow | Programmes and Office Assistant

Red Collared Brown Lemur

The conservation team has recently made remarkable strides in protecting Madagascar’s threatened biodiversity. From lemur sightings in restored corridors to groundbreaking research, your support is helping create a brighter future.

A highlight this year came on October 25th, when a Thomas’ dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus thomasi) was captured on a camera trap exploring the Ala forest corridors in Sainte Luce—our first documented sighting of this nocturnal species using the restored pathways. These corridors connect over 88 hectares of fragmented forest, providing vital lifelines for lemurs unable to traverse open ground. This sighting is a powerful testament to the success of our reforestation efforts.

The Ala Programme continues to grow, with the installation of a vermicomposting system at the SEED nursery now underway. This eco-friendly system will produce nutrient-rich compost to support seedlings for future corridors. Additionally, leadership training for fire agents and community discussions have further strengthened the collective commitment to protecting Madagascar’s littoral forests.

Other conservation projects in Sainte Luce are also thriving. Long-term monitoring of lemurs, reptiles, and amphibians has expanded to include the previously unstudied S6 fragment—a vital community resource zone. Project Palms continues its success with a 94% survival rate for recently planted palms and 17 new planting sites identified. Meanwhile, Project Phelsuma advances our understanding of the Endangered Phelsuma antanosy gecko through habitat studies and population surveys.

Each of these achievements highlight the incredible impact of collaboration between communities and conservationists. As we celebrate these successes, we remain focused on the future—building forest connections, educating communities, and sharing discoveries that ensure Madagascar’s unique biodiversity thrives.

Thank you for supporting SEED Madagascar’s efforts to protect these extraordinary species and their habitats. Together, we’re restoring forests, reviving futures, and ensuring a brighter tomorrow for Madagascar’s biodiversity.

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Aug 1, 2024
Conservation at its Core

By Sally Deitchman | Programmes and Office Assistant

The conservation team has been hard at work monitoring species, providing environmental education, and strategising for the future. In Sainte Luce, the long-term monitoring of lemur, reptile, and amphibian populations has continued. SEED’s in-depth monitoring provides valuable insights into the dynamics of these species and is crucial for understanding the trends and changes in population numbers. This data then provides a scientific basis for conservation strategies. Notably, an interesting shift in the roosting behaviour of the Madagascan Flying Fox was observed during the quarterly colony survey. The Madagascan Flying Fox, scientifically referred to as Pteropus rufus, is Madagascar’s largest bat and is essential to pollinating and dispersing plants. Their behaviour shift could indicate potential changes in their habitat preferences and availability or emerging environmental pressures.

To promote environmental awareness and education, SEED conducted environmental education sessions at two schools in Sainte Luce. These took place in May and focused on the ecological and cultural significance of six endangered species of palm trees in the region. This initiative is closely linked to the large-scale planting efforts carried out earlier in the year which are now being monitored. By educating the younger generation about the importance of these species, SEED aims to foster a sense of stewardship and conservation-mindedness within the community.

Additionally, key discussions regarding SEED’s long-term conservation strategy have been a recent focal point. Discussions like these are critical to ensuring SEED’s conservation efforts are the most impactful as they can be. One point of discussion was the need for stronger faunal population monitoring in Sector S6. With this need now acknowledged SEED can configure its action plan accordingly. Overall, strengthening SEED’s strategy is vital for the ongoing success of conservation initiatives and ensuring the protection of Sainte Luce’s unique biodiversity.

Other exciting updates are the digitisation of maps showing key hotspot areas for biodiversity and the start of planning for a new storage facility in the research camp. The maps are essential tools for guiding conservation efforts and identifying priority areas for protection and study. The new facility will support the logistical needs of ongoing and future research activities, ensuring that resources are well-managed and accessible.

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