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Hard to believe that the DLC-SC initiative is now officially just over a year old! Never had I
dreamed that we would be able to move so far so quickly. Thanks to their experience and
contacts in the region, Erik and Lanto have been able to get project activities off to a rapid
start. Below is a very brief encapsulation of where we stand today.
The
teacher training program
in environmental education has already moved through the
first two stages, and is now poised for the final teacher trainings. Numerous structured
school
group visits
into Marojejy NP
have been sponsored by DLC-SC.
Project-overseen
construction
of a school and footbridge
on
the remote west side of
Marojejy is two-thirds finished.
Our support of
reforestation
through a collaboration with
Belgian NGO Graine de Vie has
already put thousands of trees
in the ground, with tens of
thousands of seedlings still in
tree nurseries. The first
village
fish ponds
are being dug/built
as we move to support fish
farming activities, and a large demonstration pond is up and running. We are presently going
through final tweaks of a
bushmeat poster
that will be distributed throughout the SAVA region
in the coming months.
Project-sponsored
English classes
have enabled locals in the Marojejy area to take
advantage of the growing tourism opportunities at the Park.
Review classes
for admission to
secondary school contributed to the success of 20 of 26 students gaining admission into
secondary school (“middle school”). Collaboration with
Madagascar National Parks
has
increased their ability to effectively protect Marojejy, through project-funded activities such as
improved park
boundary demarcation
, and support for a
village guard program
. Through
research missions
and long-term monitoring of the silky sifaka, we have learned more about
the natural forests and wildlife of the region. Through our support of
Antanetiambo Nature
Reserve
, we expand our influence into the Andapa region while contributing towards
reforestation, ecotourism and agricultural initiatives at this model reserve founded by a local
Marojejy guide, Mr. Desiré Rabary. Collaboration with the
Center for Renewable Energy
(CER)
, a small association in Sambava, has included trainings for rocket stove and green
charcoal construction which could reduce local dependence on fuel wood.
In a step that will increase our profile in the region, a building has been rented in Sambava
which will serve as our
base of operations
, with both office and living space (for visiting
collaborators). And lastly, we are already serving as a
platform for Duke researchers and
The SAVA Conservation Initiative Moves into Its Second Year
I NS I DE TH I S
I S SUE :
Environmental
education training
2
School and bridge
almost done
3
Duke Alumni
Travel tour
4
Guard program
6
Forest monitoring
transects created
7
DLC-SC office in
Sambava
7
Alliance Française
visits Marojejy
8
Reforestation in
Antanetiambo
9
Nature Reserve
grows in size
11
Silky sifaka scent
marking
12
Duke
Connections
15
SAVA Conservation
M A R C H 2 0 1 3
V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 1
SPEC I AL
POINTS OF
INTEREST :
Director
Training in
Environmental
Education
Duke Alumni
Madagascar
Tour
Reforestation
in
Antanetiambo
D U K E
L E M U R
C E N T E R
News from the
S
ambava-
A
ndapa-
V
ohemar-
A
ntalaha region of northeastern Madagascar
Photo by David Haring