Retrospective
by Andy Duffy
July 3, 2005
All afternoon tasks signed up for / allocated
– trap checks, GIS, Roadies and Scaters. I have been allocated
dispatches, which has given me a little free time to reflect.
We are 11 Days in to our Carnivores of Madagascar expedition.
9 volunteers from UK, USA, France and Australia working together
with an international project team.
The “fossa” was at the heart of the briefing, and much of
our work has been based around trap checks and gathering data
to help the project team understand the fossa behaviour and
environment. We also had an early highlight, with a fossa
trapped and anesthetised – for checks, analysis and tagging
prior to release back into its native surroundings.
This has raised questions for me. Why is the fossa so rare?
Why is its habitat under constant threat?
Some of theses issues seem to be closely tied to the wider
problems of Madagascar, particularly the devastating change
to the environment. Most of the forests are now gone. Without
the forests to ‘stabilise’ the land the sand based soil is
being rapidly eroded from heavy seasonal rains. We have seen
the evidence ourselves. The Lavaka, an enormous canyon has
been created within memory of the local people serves proof.
On our Savanna trail we see a new canyon forming – currently
only 1M deep – but created in only 12 months. One scientist
described Madagscar being like an “ice cream melting into
the sea”.
Why the erosion and disappearing forests?
Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world –
9th poorest. The challenge of feeding families and villages
is at the centre of daily life. The population is also growing
rapidly, and is predicted to double within 15 years.
Vast amounts of Madagascar’s forests have been felled for
agriculture and for charcoal. Bush fires, deliberately lit
to encourage green shoots to grow for cattle, spread and cause
destruction. This damage to the unique island of Madagascar
seems to be caused largely by ordinary people going about
their daily lives - making an existence and feeding themselves.
So should we focus our efforts on studying the beautiful
and rare animals or helping to create behavioral changes –
through education and promoting sustainable development? I
was fascinated to learn from ther project team the ‘catalyst’
which has built the foundations of the Women’s Co-operative
group at Ambodimanga. This now employs upto 50 people supporting
the Earthwatch project team. Modest profits are ploughed back
into developing this young business. The campsite now has
2 bungalows – and can offer sleeping feeding and watering
facilities to backpackers and the wealthier eco-tourists.
Educational links have also been established with local towns/villages.
The twin efforts of education and modest, sustainable economic
development seem to offer a real chance of protecting the
dry deciduous forests of Madagascar. Ambodimanga Camp deserves
to succeed – it needs to and so do other similar initiatives
– so that the jewels that Madagascar offers can be protected.
So back to the Fossa project. This expedition has offered
me a real insight into life of the Carnivores in Ankarfantsika
National Park. I have seen birds that momentarily leave you
speechless (the Paradise Flycatcher is my favourite), and
plants that exist nowhere else in the world. I have met, and
talked to many of the village people. I even played football
with about 15 children. They are a warm and very friendly
people. I have seen the ways that the Malagasy people can
progress and whilst taking these small steps they help to
protect and benefit from their environment.
Carnivores of Madagascar. Come and see and make your own
mind up on the best way forward.
Now time for that cool beer………
Andy
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