Blog
The mission for the Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is to:
The Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute (MRCI) sets out to:
- Offer a safe place where volunteers from all walks of life can work side by side. Their work helps local people and the natural world, and helps them grow along the way.
- Play an active part in research and conservation work that is built to last.
- Work with local villages to improve health care and schooling.
- Help local NGOs and other conservation groups reach their goals.
Who We Are
MRCI is a research and conservation base on Nosy Komba, a small island off the north west coast of Madagascar. Our camp sits at Turtle Cove, right on the shore. We have run programmes here since 2013.
Madagascar holds wildlife found nowhere else on earth. Much of it is at risk, on land and in the water. We were set up to help protect it, and to give volunteers a real part to play in that work.
What We Do
Our work runs across land, sea and village life:
- Marine conservation — reef surveys, fish counts and coral planting
- Sea turtle monitoring — tracking turtles along our coast
- Forest conservation — surveys of lemurs, reptiles and birds
- English teaching — lessons in island schools
- Community development — building and support work with local families
- Medical assistance — help at the local clinic
Each project runs to a plan. The data we gather feeds long-term records, rather than a single season.
Join Us
Our volunteers come from all over. Most stay between two and twelve weeks. You do not need a science background — we train you here.
Apply now, or get in touch if you have questions first.
AboutMadagascar Volunteer
Madagascar Volunteer is the team behind this website. Our writers and reviewers have all worked on the ground here, on our own programmes and in the villages we support. We aim to give you clear, current facts, so you know what a placement involves and can plan your trip with care. Every article is checked before it goes live. We believe in volunteering the right way: good for the people we work with, good for the wildlife, and good for you.
