Mission-driven team: Building the foundation for dry forest conservation in southern Madagascar

By Delaïd C. Rasamisoa

Wide view of rolling hills covered in scrubland with a partly cloudy blue sky above.

For six weeks, I recently traveled across the Mandrare landscape in southern Madagascar with a clear mission: to establish and support Wildlife Madagascar’s newest conservation team that would strengthen the efforts of our local partners, Madagascar Classic Collection (MCC) and Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), in protecting the unique biodiversity of Angavo and surrounding privately owned forests in Ifotaka Mandrare. For me, this mission was more than a professional assignment, it was a homecoming. Returning to the region where I was born and where I conducted my first field research between 2010 and 2011 was both emotional and inspiring. It was a full circle moment for me. After years of working to conserve wildlife in other places of Madagascar, I finally had the opportunity to contribute to the protection of my own homeland.

Man sits on rocky terrain outdoors in dry, scrubby woodland, wearing a blue shirt and backpack, looking toward the camera.

Slope densely forested hillside under a clear blue sky with a few white clouds at the top edge of the image.

Back in the region where I grew up!

a landscape under pressure

My first impression upon arriving was striking. Compared to what I remembered 15 years ago, much of the forest had disappeared. Large areas had been cleared, and forests were fragmented into isolated patches. Another alarming observation was the heat. April temperatures in the region typically range between 20°C and 28°C, but this year’s visit in April 2026, we recorded temperatures as high as 40°C! Extreme heat and prolonged drought highlight the growing impacts of climate change, threatening both wildlife and local communities that depend on these natural resources for their livelihoods.

Despite these many challenges, the forest fragments never stopped surprising us. During our surveys, we watched Verreaux’s sifakas move gracefully through the canopy, encountered ring-tailed lemurs, and even found radiated and spider tortoises, a reminder that these small forests still harbor extraordinary biodiversity.

Ring-tailed lemur standing on a rock in a forest with its long black-and-white striped tail raised behind it

White sifaka lemur clinging to a tree trunk in a dense forest with green leaves surrounding it.

Left: Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta); Right: Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi)

when culture becomes conservation

What will happen to these forest fragments? There are rays of hope. Growing up in the region taught me that one of the most powerful conservation tools we have is not a protected area or a law… it is culture. Most people in the Mandrare landscape belong to the Antandroy ethnic group, whose traditional beliefs continue to shape how natural resources are used. As an example, many forest fragments are considered sacred because they contain family tombs, spiritual sites, and places associated with ancestors. The tradition prohibits hunting lemurs and tortoises and restrict tree cutting within sacred forests. As a result, many forest patches have survived because local communities consider them taboo, or fady. In this way, cultural values have become an essential force for biodiversity conservation in the region.

building a team for conservation

A major goal of this first mission was to assemble an engaged conservation team qualified of supporting Wildlife Madagascar’s long-term engagement in southern Madagascar. The vision is ambitious: strengthen the protection of four privately-owned forests near the Mandrare River, and the Angavo Protected Area, through environmental education, biodiversity monitoring and ecological research, restoration and reforestation efforts, and community-driven livelihood initiatives. Ultimately, our hope is to reconnect isolated forest fragments through habitat corridors that allow wildlife to disperse and maintain genetic diversity. Building this foundation requires identifying key collaborators, coordinating with universities and partner organizations, and ensuring that the right expertise would be available for future conservation activities.

Shallow pool between reddish rocks with green lily pads and white water lilies.

Natural spring in Angavo.

But, our first step was talking to local people. Over several days, we visited the families who own the forests where we envisioned carrying out future conservation activities. Our first stop was the “Golden Forest,” where we met Dadake, his father, and other family members. After walking through the forest in search of sifakas and ring-tailed lemurs, we sat together beneath the shade of a tree to discuss our shared vision for conservation of the forested land. We repeated this approach in Mahaterake Forest, Manahira Forest, and the gallery forest owned by the Andriamagnaregne clan. Speaking the local language helped me to build trust and foster meaningful discussions about long-term conservation partnerships. After a week, together with TSA staff, we spent three days exploring the sacred forest of Angavo Protected Area, assessing wildlife populations and identifying potential locations for a future field station. The visits were encouraging. We encountered 6 groups of Critically Endangered Verreaux’s sifaka (a total of 15 individuals), found evidence of ring-tailed lemurs, observed radiated tortoises, met local communities, and visited several sacred sites that continue to play an important role in protecting biodiversity and the area itself.

Tortoise with a patterned yellow and black shell resting on a rocky dirt ground, facing left.

Adult tortoise on dry, leaf-strewn ground with visible shell growth rings and its head and legs extended.

Left: Spider tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides); Right: Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)

a shared vision for the future

Our discussions with local TSA, MCC staff, authorities, community members and forest owners were very encouraging. We established new partnerships and strengthened existing ones around a common goal: protecting the remaining dry forests of these zones within southern region. What inspired me most was the willingness of every stakeholder to collaborate. Their commitment reinforced my belief that conservation succeeds when local communities, private landowners, and conservation organizations work together. The forests of southern Madagascar face immense challenges, but they also possess extraordinary potential. By combining science, community engagement, traditional knowledge, and strong partnerships, we are laying the groundwork for a future in which both people and wildlife can thrive. Coming back to help restore the forest feels like returning home. It is a unique chance to give back to my community and to the ecosystems that were central to my upbringing, nurtured my connection with nature, and inspired my journey as a conservationist.