Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust is an international conservation organisation with
itsheadquartersinJersey,ChannelIslands.Itwasestablished bythevisionaryconser-
vationistandrenownedauthorGeraldDurrellin1963.Theorganisation,withthemis-
sion'tosavespecies fromextinction', haspre-eminent expertise inhands-onmanage-
ment of endangered species and a global reputation for its work through its field con-
servation projects, captive breeding, re-introduction and research (in the wild and un-
der conservation care). Durrell currently has 40 conservation projects in 18 countries,
as well as an extensive programme of research, training, conservation and breeding
of endangered species. Our largest programme is in Madagascar, where we have been
working for over 20 years in a range of different locations and habitats. Our current
efforts are concentrated on eight sites in western dry forests, wetlands and fragmen-
ted lowland rainforest - fragile and poorly studied ecosystems with their own com-
plement of Madagascar's endemic species, which have often been neglected by other
conservation programmes.
TheMenabeforestsnearMorondavaonthewestcoastcontainaremarkablecluster
of locally endemic, endangered species including the giant jumping rat, the flat-tailed
tortoise and the narrow-striped mongoose. They are threatened by slash-and-burn
maize cultivation, which has created vast holes in the forest, and by unsustainable
logging operations that damage the forest's structure and open up trails that lead to
increased hunting and other extractive uses. Our work has been focused on raising
awareness of the locally endemic species by defining their conservation status and
threats; onworkingwith local communities usingtraditional laws called
dina
toagree
on limits to cultivated areas in exchange for rights to cultivate on illegally deforested
land; and working with government and NGO partners to create a new protected area
to ensure the survival of Menabe's forests and species. Durrell's partnership approach
is starting to show success with a halt to deforestation in this area since 2003. The
Malagasy government decided to legally protect the Menabe forests in March 2006.
The Durrell Madagascar programme has been working to conserve endemic wet-
land species through two projects. The Western Wetland Project concentrates on spe-
cies such as Madagascar teal, side-necked turtle and sacred ibis, while the Eastern
WetlandProjectincludesactionfortheLacAlaotragentlelemur,Meller'sduckand19
endemic species of fish found in the Nosivolo River near Marolambo. In addition to
theirbiodiversity importance, wetlandsarehighlyproductiveandsustainlargehuman
populations through fisheries and agriculture. Our wetland conservation campaign at
Lake Alaotra has also been a success (see
Click Here
).
The ploughshare tortoise is a prime example of an extremely rare species - occur-
ring only at a single site - that is vulnerable to a variety of pressures such as uncon-
trolled bush fires and collection for international trade. Our conservation action for
thisspecies, inBaie deBaly National Park,whichincludes allremaining tortoise hab-
