Pioneering primatologist in Madagascar shares decades of conservation wisdom – Mongabay

Conservation in Madagascar: An Integrated Approach to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: The Work of Dr. Patricia Wright

Primatologist Dr. Patricia Wright’s work in Madagascar, initiated in 1986, provides a comprehensive model for integrating biodiversity conservation with sustainable development. The establishment of the Centre ValBio research station and the subsequent creation of Ranomafana National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, serve as cornerstones of this effort. This report analyzes the challenges and solutions in Madagascar through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), based on Dr. Wright’s experiences and insights.

Challenges to Sustainable Development in Madagascar

Madagascar faces a complex web of interconnected challenges that directly impede progress toward the SDGs. These issues create a cycle of environmental degradation and human hardship.

Socio-Economic and Environmental Pressures

• SDG 1 (No Poverty): Widespread poverty, affecting approximately 80% of the population, is identified as the primary driver of environmental destruction. Subsistence activities, such as slash-and-burn agriculture, are often the only available means of survival for local communities.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): The nation is experiencing a biodiversity crisis, with rampant deforestation, human-set fires for cattle grazing, and illegal logging destroying unique habitats. This threatens the 90% of Malagasy wildlife that is endemic, directly undermining targets for halting biodiversity loss.
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): Political instability and turmoil disrupt conservation efforts and economic stability. Such events deter tourism, a vital source of revenue, and can lead to a resurgence in destructive practices as communities lose alternative income streams.

An Integrated Strategy for Achieving the SDGs

Dr. Wright’s approach demonstrates that conservation cannot be pursued in isolation. Lasting success requires a multi-faceted strategy that addresses the root causes of environmental degradation by directly contributing to multiple SDGs.

Pillar 1: Protecting Ecosystems and Biodiversity (SDG 15 & SDG 13)

The foundation of the strategy is the direct protection of natural habitats, which is crucial for both biodiversity and climate action.

1. Protected Area Establishment: The creation of Ranomafana National Park, spurred by the discovery of the golden bamboo lemur, exemplifies how scientific research can lead to formal protection of critical ecosystems. Efforts are underway to grant protected status to newly explored areas like the Ivohiboro forest.
2. Reforestation and Restoration: Active reforestation programs are implemented to restore degraded lands. This not only rebuilds habitats but also enhances climate resilience by preventing soil erosion and moderating local temperatures, contributing to SDG 13 (Climate Action).
3. Scientific Research: Research stations like Centre ValBio act as hubs for monitoring biodiversity, discovering new species, and understanding ecosystem dynamics, providing the essential data needed for effective conservation management.

Pillar 2: Fostering Economic and Social Development (SDG 1, SDG 8, SDG 3, SDG 4)

Sustainable livelihoods are presented as the most effective alternative to destructive practices. This involves creating economic value from conservation and investing in human capital.

• Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8):
  • Ecotourism: Developing and marketing Madagascar’s unique biodiversity for tourism creates jobs for guides, hotel staff, and local service providers.
  • Sustainable Agriculture: Communities are engaged in growing high-value, non-destructive crops like vanilla and black pepper on reforested land. This provides higher incomes than subsistence farming, directly addressing SDG 1 (No Poverty).
  • Conservation Employment: Local community members are trained and employed as “Ecosystem Stewards,” researchers, and park staff, creating a direct economic link between conservation and community welfare.
• Quality Education (SDG 4): Investment in education, particularly for girls and rural populations, is highlighted as a transformative tool. Educational programs and fellowships empower the next generation with skills for professions beyond subsistence agriculture.
• Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3): Conservation programs are integrated with health initiatives. The presence of conservation NGOs often brings improved health infrastructure, such as ambulances and clinics, to remote areas. Furthermore, research at Centre ValBio on infectious diseases and genetics contributes to broader human health knowledge.

Pillar 3: Building Awareness and Partnerships (SDG 17)

Effective conservation relies on collaboration and communication at local and international levels, embodying the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• Public Awareness: Documentary films and media engagement play a pivotal role in communicating the biodiversity crisis to a global audience, mobilizing support and promoting tourism.
• Community Engagement: Local communities are treated as essential partners. By involving them in research, reforestation, and fire prevention, a sense of ownership and value for the forest is cultivated.
• Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: Success is built on partnerships between research institutions (Stony Brook University), the Malagasy government, international NGOs (Rainforest Trust, Catholic Relief Services), and local communities.

Conclusion: The Role of Research Stations as Engines for Sustainable Development

The work in Madagascar underscores that field research stations are vital hubs for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. They serve not only as centers for scientific discovery but also as catalysts for education, health, economic development, and community empowerment. By linking the health of ecosystems directly to the well-being of people, this integrated model provides a powerful and replicable framework for addressing the planet’s most pressing conservation and development challenges.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article explicitly identifies poverty as a central challenge, stating, “Poverty is the enemy of conservation here in Madagascar,” and noting that “roughly 80% of its people are impacted by poverty.” The link between poverty and environmental degradation is a core theme, as people turn to slash-and-burn agriculture and logging to survive.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The importance of health care is mentioned as a necessary component of conservation efforts. Patricia Wright states, “I think both health and education are very important, and I started out at the very beginning, incorporating those into our conservation programs.” The article also mentions the work of an NGO called PIVOT on health infrastructure and the discovery of a gene in mouse lemurs related to heart arrhythmia in humans, linking biodiversity research to human health.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  Education is presented as a key solution. The article highlights programs providing “fellowships to girls in remote villages for high school” and training local people to become “Ecosystem Stewards” and scientists. Wright emphasizes that education, especially for rural people, is crucial for changing the focus of families from subsistence farming to professional careers.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article discusses the creation of alternative livelihoods to destructive practices. This includes promoting sustainable tourism, training local people as guides and researchers, and developing sustainable agriculture with high-value crops like vanilla and black pepper. These initiatives aim to provide incomes “much higher than what they earned from growing rice alone,” contributing to economic growth and decent work.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  Climate change is mentioned as a challenge, with the article noting “things are getting hotter.” It also discusses the impact of powerful cyclones and the role of forests in mitigating climate effects by cooling temperatures and preventing soil erosion. Reforestation is presented as a direct action to combat these effects.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  This goal is briefly touched upon when the article mentions, “The second-largest coral reef in the world is in Madagascar, and nobody knows about it,” highlighting an undervalued marine ecosystem.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  This is the most central SDG in the article. The entire text focuses on combating deforestation, halting biodiversity loss, and protecting terrestrial ecosystems. Key issues include the “extinction crisis,” habitat destruction from logging and fires, and the protection of unique endemic species like lemurs. The creation of Ranomafana National Park and efforts to protect the Ivohiboro forest are prime examples of actions toward this goal.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article discusses how “political turmoil” and a “turnover in government” negatively impact conservation by disrupting tourism and the economy, which can drive people back to destructive practices. This highlights the need for stable institutions to support conservation efforts.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article is replete with examples of partnerships. This includes collaboration between the Centre ValBio research station, the Malagasy government (to create a national park), international NGOs (Catholic Relief Services, Phoenix Conservancy, Rainforest Trust), and media organizations (BBC, France 5) to achieve conservation and development goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.1: By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere. The article’s focus on the 80% of the population impacted by poverty and the need for economic alternatives directly addresses this target.
   • Target 1.5: By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters. The efforts to create sustainable livelihoods through high-value crops and tourism aim to build economic resilience against shocks like political turmoil that disrupt income.

2. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. The “Ecosystem Stewards” program, which trains local people in science and conservation, is a direct implementation of this target.

3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. The article explicitly advocates for marketing Madagascar’s unique biodiversity and landscapes to increase tourism, which creates jobs for guides and supports local economies.

4. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services. The creation and protection of Ranomafana National Park is a clear example.
   • Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally. The article’s discussion of reforestation, building firebreaks, and stopping illegal logging directly aligns with this target.
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. The entire conservation effort described, from discovering the golden bamboo lemur to protecting Simone, the last greater bamboo lemur in the park, is aimed at this target.

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. The collaboration between Wright’s research institute, the government, NGOs like Rainforest Trust and Catholic Relief Services, and private media like the BBC exemplifies this multi-stakeholder approach.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Proportion of population living below the international poverty line (Indicator 1.1.1): The article provides a baseline figure: “roughly 80% of its people are impacted by poverty.” Progress could be measured by a reduction in this percentage over time.
• Number of tourist arrivals (related to Target 8.9): The article provides a specific figure: “About 200,000” tourists visited national parks in Madagascar last year. This serves as a quantifiable indicator for measuring the growth of the tourism sector.
• Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type (Indicator 15.1.2): The establishment of Ranomafana National Park in 1991 and its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 are concrete indicators of progress. The effort to make Ivohiboro a protected area is another.
• Progress towards sustainable forest management (Indicator 15.2.1): While no specific numbers are given, the implementation of reforestation programs, the building of firebreaks, and training local communities in sustainable agriculture are activities that serve as qualitative indicators of progress.
• Number of new species discovered: The article mentions the discovery of “a brand-new species to science, the golden bamboo lemur” and “new species of frogs and snakes and lemurs and plants” in Ivohiboro. This can be used as an indicator of the unique biodiversity that requires protection.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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