Enabling Community-Based Protection and Governance for the Aloatran Gentle Lemur and Wetland Resilience
Project description
This project aims to protect Madagascar’s largest wetland complex, the Alaotra Ramsar watershed, while conserving the Critically Endangered Alaotran gentle lemur, found nowhere else on Earth. Through the restoration of 240 hectares of marsh and the empowerment of community-based organisations (CBOs), local communities take a leading role in natural resource governance and habitat protection.
The project will enhance lemur population monitoring using innovative drone technology, support sustainable livelihoods for 2,500 people across 12 villages, and increase community-led patrolling to safeguard the marsh. A targeted outreach campaign and capacity-building for CBOs will ensure long-term, locally driven conservation and resilience for both people and nature.
This project is implemented by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Threats
Habitat loss & degradation
Project objectives
This project aims to conserve the Alaotra wetland ecosystem and the Critically Endangered Alaotran gentle lemur through community-led action, innovation, and sustainable development. It will generate the first accurate, range-wide population estimate of the lemur using drone-mounted thermal sensors and AI analysis, building local capacity to carry out ongoing monitoring. Habitat restoration will focus on 120 hectares of marshland through invasive plant clearance and reed planting by local fishers.
Sustainable livelihoods will be supported through training in Climate Smart Agriculture, business skills, and value chains, benefiting over 2500 people. Community patrols will help safeguard biodiversity and reduce threats, while a co-designed outreach campaign will promote conservation behaviour. Governance will be strengthened by empowering CBOs to manage and protect natural resources through targeted training and the renewal of management transfer agreements.
Project activities
- Trained local staff will conduct thermal drone surveys quarterly to estimate lemur populations across the Alaotra marsh using a validated protocol and AI.
- Restoration will include invasive species removal on 20 hectares of lake surface and planting 40 hectares of reed annually by local fishers, providing income during the closed fishing season.
- Farmers will be trained in Climate Smart Agriculture and business skills via Farmer Field Schools and cooperatives.
- 63 Village Saving and Loan Associations will be supported and firebreaks maintained by forestry committees.
- Monthly patrols from 24 villages will collect threat and biodiversity data via SMART tools, with findings shared for enforcement and conservation planning.
- A five-year outreach campaign, informed by Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices surveys surveys and community input, will target behavioural change in farming and fishing.
- Community-based organisations will receive governance training and support for protected area management transfer processes.
