Posted on August, 27 2019

To a succesful conservation of biodiversity, communities direct involvment in sustainable management of natural resources is essential. 
Thus, a data collection system with the communities is operational in the Tsimanampesotse National Park, in southern Madagascar, to strengthten their commitment. To date, 9 people are involved in this activity, research guides from villages around Tsimanampesotse Park. The first of them have already assisted researchers from several Malagasy and foreign universities since 2006. Currently, they are trained on data collection protocols. Called "paraecologists", these guides are more than committed in the conservation of the spiny forest of Tsimanampesotse.

Located in the Andranovao Research Camp, in the heart of the park, these people track tortoises, makis, carnivores, and the vegetation of the thorny forest. This monitoring provides information on the biodiversity and ecosystems health : the state of the forest, the population structure of the species, and the threats and pressures affecting them.

"Data collection is done on a regular and long-term basis. This broadens local communities' knowledge of biodiversity and increases their involvement in the world of conservation.” Says Tahiry Ranaivoson of WWF.

It is from the information obtained that the community, Madagascar National Parks, the Ministry in charge of the environment and the environmental actors take together the appropriate decisions for the management of the Tsimanampesotse Park.