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The MRCI Forest Redirection

Author: Charles Wheeler, MRCI Forest Intern

 

The MRCI Forest Program saw a very successful 2017, a year of working hard to monitor the biodiversity of Nosy Komba. The staff and volunteers on the forest program carried out a total of 493 surveys for our herpetofaunal, bird and lemur monitoring projects and worked for over 500 hours collecting the important data. The long hard hours our forest volunteers have put in hiking through forests, climbing over rocks and exploring the villages around Nosy Komba, have contributed to the long-term monitoring of the species abundance that is affected by the expansion of human settlements.

Over the course of the year volunteers and forest staff members carried out 133 reptile transects and 57 plot surveys, figure 1, the most common species to be spotted in surveys being the Phelsuma laticauda on the preferred substrate of a banana plant in plantations, figure 2. The forest programme also carried out 110 bird point out surveys and over 121 hours of data collection, which highlighted a clear correlation between seasons and species counts across Nosy Komba, figure 3.

MRCI Forest Redirection Nosy Komba Madagascar 1

Figure 1. Number of completed transects (n=133) and plot surveys (n=57) from 2017. The most frequently monitored location T7 was in degraded secondary forest and had 25 completed transect surveys and 17 completed plot surveys.

MRCI Forest Redirection Nosy Komba Madagascar 2

Figure 2. Substrates most commonly recorded with the presence of reptiles or amphibians during line transects or plot surveys in 2017.  Banana trees (n= 284) are the most common substrate recorded on transects and plot surveys mainly associated with the Phelsuma species. Woody tree (n= 12) and Tree (n= 62) substrates are less commonly recorded and are more associated with threatened species, e.g. Uroplatus henkeli

MRCI Forest Redirection Nosy Komba Madagascar 3

Figure 3. Species counts for each month for 2017 illustrating the seasonal fluctuations of species found on Nosy Komba. A clear difference between the dry season months from May (n= 415) until September (n= 245) with the exception of July (n= 85) which have a high count of individuals. Whereas the wet season months November (n= 101) until March (n= 7) have a much lower count of individuals.

In the new year of 2018, the forest program will continue its efforts to monitor the biodiversity of Nosy Komba, whilst bringing in a new more hands on approach to forest conservation. The redirection will have a large focus on Argo-forestry, removal of invasive plant species and active reforestation of larger native tree species. The first month of the new MRCI forest vision has been successful; forest volunteers have been visiting local farmers and plantations to help harvest and plant crops such as vanilla and cocoa. These weekly visits to plantations will initiate a connection between the forest program and our local farming community, as well as providing valuable knowledge of sustainable agriculture to implement on our agro-forest plot purchased late last year.

The newest and most needed project on the forest program is the invasive species removal and reforestation project that has begun this month. The main goals behind this project is to restore the secondary forests on Nosy Komba with large native plant species to increase the biodiversity which has declined due to expansion of human settlements. Our first step towards this goal is to remove the widely spread invasive plant species, Lantana camara. The Lantana is a non-native plant to Madagascar and is used for local medicinal purposes. Unfortunately, the Lantana is a fast-growing plant that thrives in cleared areas of forest and has spread dramatically across the whole of Nosy Komba. This invasive species is a thick bushy plant which creates inter-specific competition for light, water and space therefore reducing biodiversity and creating a monoculture. The MRCI forest program aim to completely remove the lantana in some areas and replace it with tree saplings that have been grown in our newly constructed reforestation nursery.

With the help of more dedicated and passionate forest volunteers in the coming year, we hope to continue making a positive difference to the biodiversity and ecology of this important small island in the north of Madagascar.

Read More about the MRCI Forest Conservation Program!

 

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute

3 days ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Volunteers of the week! Big shout to Forest team and Alex for being amazing in doing the works in each program! Very hard to choose only one of you 🥳🙈 keep the good work team! #madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #volunteeroftheweek #conservation #motivated ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute

1 week ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Join us in Marine program and explore and learn this sea slug biodiversity in our home reef! 🔥☺️#madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #turtletowerhomereef #nudibranch #seaslug #marineprogram #conservation #biodiversity #indicatorspecies #importantrole #marinelife ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute

2 weeks ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
It was a good week to say hi to everyone from us with a cool drone shot by @dadsonnnnnnn 🎉🥳 #madagascarvolunteer #volunteer #volunteering #goodweek #volunteeringisfun #turtlecove #itsthewibe ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute

2 weeks ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Meet Solly, our much-loved Marine Conservation Officer at Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute (MRCI). Growing up in a small rural fishing community in northern Madagascar, he has always had a deep connection to the oceanSoon after completing his higher education, Solly enrolled in the University of North Antsiranana where he earned a Master’s Degree in Marine SciencesIn 2019, Solly was accepted as a marine intern at MRCI. With his amazing attitude, work ethic and enthusiasm, he was quickly promoted to Marine Conservation OfficerSolly’s dream is to become a PADI Diving Instructor.MRCI has undertaken to create this GoFundMe account in collaboration with Emily Borth to help Solly achieve his dream.Please donate and help us make Solly’s dream come true by click the link below! 🙏🏼☺️https://gofund.me/176e591dPhoto credit : @hello_socialbutterfly 🌸#madagascar #madagascarvolunteer #solly’sdream #fundraiser #padiinstructor #PADIIDC2023 #PADIIDC2024 #paditv #localmarinebiologist #marineresearch #padiprofessional #futurecareer #gofundme ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute

3 weeks ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Hiiii volunteers of the week! 🥰Shoutout to community and construction team and also Jeronimo for showing the dignity, commitment, passion to the program and most important to the people in the village!We are lucky to have you all here at our camp 🎉Join us? Click link on bio 🐣#madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteeroftheweek #volunteering #community #teachingenglish #construction #buildingtrashsystem #paintingtheschool #forkids #forlocals #communityengagement ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute

3 weeks ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
We are glad to share that our community library in Ampangorina village has been refurbished by our community volunteers, staff and help from little hands! ☺️In many of the village in Madagascar, young people have little to no access to reading materials, we hope by keep adding books to our community library can improve in children’s literacyThanks to our volunteers that donated the books, your help and support is always appreciated 😇🌸#madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #community #communitylibrary #forchildren #local #books #donatedbooks #improvingchildrenliteracy #communitydevelopment ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute

4 weeks ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Hello teachers! 🎉Our community program is strong as we have a lot of volunteers that are passionate to give what they have to the local community in the village by teaching english, from the kids classes to adult classes, beginner to intermediate level! Its very rewarding when you come to Madagascar with a purpose and leave knowing you made a positive impact! 🎉❤️Join us on the Community program, click link on bio! 🔥#madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #teachers #english #beginnerclass #intermediateclass #learning #education #forlocals #impact #purpose #communityeducation #engagement #volunteeringisfun ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute

1 month ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Congratulations Jack-ie Chan and Daan 🎉 Thanks for bringing a lot of good mood and joy to the camp, also for your consistent contribution in Forest program and Marine program, we glad to have you guys around and leave with an impact! Volunteering with us click link on bio!#madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #volunteeroftheweek #conservation #motivated ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute

1 month ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Today we went to the shipwreck for a dive that called mitsio wreck🛥 located not too far from Nosy Komba only 35min boat drive!And please meet the toxic trio (Stone fish, Lion fish as well Scorpion fish)! Can you guys spotted it? 🙈 they are incredibly well camouflaged and sometimes even use biofluorescence (glowing with a different color) to blend into their environment 🥰These carnivores got their name from the many toxic spikes and spines across their bodies. The venom from these contains powerful neurotoxins that can be extremely painful, and even deadly. And yes, that goes for humans too!We also wants to congratulate Gorka & Emily for finishing their Advance Open Water course and now its time to learn more about our ocean and help us to carry the survey as soon as they develop our @conservationdiverofficial EMP course in Marine Program! 🥳Join us? Click link on our bio 🎉#madagascar #madagascarvolunteer #marineconservation #mitsiowreck #stonefish #lionfish #scorpionfish #biodiversity #marinelife #conservation #citizenscientist #marineconservationist #practicesurvey ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute

1 month ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Job Opportunity in Madagascar at Madagascar Research Conservation Institute (MRCI)!We are looking for PADI Dive Instructor 🤿 who wants to join our team and amazing project in Marine Conservation program which you’ll be able to grow in person with us!We are looking a responsible person who is passionate about diving, strong background of conservation, PADI renewed instructor who is able to teach and followed all the safety standard of diving from Open Water up to Dive Master, and able to service and maintain all diving equipment 🌊Applicants who have completed Conservation Diver internship or Instructor training will be looked upon more favorable as the role will eventually teaching of @conservationdiverofficial course, even some experience in remote areas! What we offer is basic salary, commission on courses, 3 meals a day, accommodation and visas are provided. We are looking to fill this role as soon as possible, get in touch and please send your CV to Wendy@madagascarvolunteer.com ! ... See MoreSee Less

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Contact Us

Madagascar Office: Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute, Home Sakalava, Rue R Tsiomeko, Hell-Ville, Nosy Be, Madagascar
Phone: +261 32 50 891 57
Office Hours: Please take note of the time zone differences when contacting us.
Email: volunteer@madagascarvolunteer.com

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Disclaimer:  We reserve the right to change our Volunteer Programs at any time, without prior notice.