A Gap Year in the Field: Protecting Biodiversity in Madagascar
By Jacques Cressman
After graduating from high school at the French Lycée Chateaubriand in Rome, I decided to take a gap year to travel, discover new environments, and gain hands-on work experience before pursuing my studies. This led me to spend six months in Madagascar, volunteering with four different organizations focused on various conservation, community development, protection, and education initiatives. My third placement was with Wildlife Madagascar (WM), where I had the chance to contribute directly to forest conservation and learn more about the country’s extraordinary biodiversity. Madagascar is renowned for its exceptionally high levels of endemism (over 80% of its plants and animals exist nowhere else) and this uniqueness makes its ecosystems both globally important and extremely vulnerable to threats such as deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and the expansion of slash-and-burn agriculture.
Observing and recording data on lemurs in the wild.
I spent three weeks at WM’s La Mananara site, situated near the town of Anjozorobe, approximately four hours northeast of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, where I provided support to the WM conservation research and reforestation teams. WM focuses on protecting Madagascar’s forests and raising public awareness about the importance of natural resource conservation. Its mission is to support local communities in adopting sustainable practices that help preserve these resources for the long term.
Diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema), a Critically Endangered lemur species that Wildlife Madagascar monitors in the La Mananara forest.
During my time there, I took part in the national reforestation project, which aims to plant one million trees over several years to safeguard Madagascar’s unique ecosystems. My first task involved supporting botanical plot work, specifically identifying which tree species were present in different areas of the forest. My second task consisted of locating pre-identified groups of lemurs, observing their behavior, and collecting data. This information helps the reforestation team determine which native tree species should be prioritized for propagation and where they should be planted. My third task focused on community outreach in nearby villages, raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity conservation.
Preparing plant pots in the nursery and planting saplings in the reforestation zone.
The awareness-raising activities were adapted to different age groups. The first group consisted of schoolchildren, followed by teenagers (both in and out of school), then young adults aged 18 to 25, and finally adult farmers. Our team shared sustainable farming techniques that take into account deforestation, habitat loss, and the risks of slash-and-burn agriculture. For young people, the sessions highlighted why biodiversity matters and how they can help protect it. These conversations were especially important because the surrounding landscapes are under increasing pressure, and the future of Madagascar’s wildlife will depend largely on community-led stewardship.
Preparing a new area in the La Mananara nursery.
Through this project, I gained a great deal of new knowledge about scientific research and the complexity of biodiversity conservation. I learned that this work spans multiple scientific disciplines (for example, biology, botany, ecology, and zoology) and requires long-term commitment. I developed practical skills in field data collection, data management, and other research activities. I also had the opportunity to plant native trees at the reforestation site and help set up traps for Goodman’s mouse lemurs (Microcebus lehilahytsara) to support ongoing species monitoring efforts.
Setting a live trap for the mouse lemur monitoring program.
Above all, this experience taught me how essential it is to preserve and protect biodiversity. I also saw firsthand the challenges of communicating these issues to local communities who have lived in these environments for generations. Many rely on traditional farming practices and have limited access to formal education, which makes awareness-raising both crucial and delicate. I learned how important it is to communicate clearly, respectfully, and in ways that resonate with people’s daily lives. My time with Wildlife Madagascar was one of the most meaningful parts of my gap year. It strengthened my interest in conservation and gave me a deeper appreciation for the people working tirelessly to protect Madagascar’s natural heritage.
Searching for the best way to photograph a lemur!