Pascal Nalimanana Rabeson (Scholar), Centre ValBio/ Institute for Conservation of Tropical Environments, Madagascar
2014 Conference Paper:
Conservation of Fragmented Forests Surrounding Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar Using Participatory Ecological Monitoring and GIS as a Tool for Biodiversity and Habitat Monitoring
Presenter(s): Pascal Nalimanana Rabeson (Scholar), Centre ValBio/ Institute for Conservation of Tropical Environments
SESSION: Community Mapping and Public Participation GIS
"Local people are usually not considered as stakeholders of their surrounding environment, including the biodiversity and forest habitat. Participatory Ecological Monitoring is becoming a more common approach used internationally to involve local people to be active and responsible for their environment. This project aims to engage villagers surrounding Ranomafana National Park (RNP), located in southeastern Madagascar, in conservation and management of their own natural resources through the principle of participatory ecological monitoring using Geographic Information System (GIS) to monitor the biodiversity and its habitat. Ten villages surrounding RNP will be targeted to monitor the biodiversity of the fauna (lemurs, birds, and snakes), flora (specific trees), and the existing pressures in the forest. Three transects will be used for observations using the existing trails in the forest. Observations will be conducted once a month for four days in each village. Villagers will be trained on survey methods, data collection, use of GPS and cameras to conduct the transect observations. All transects from the forests belonging to each village will be mapped using GIS software. Data recorded on observations of biodiversity and pressures will be analyzed based on specific indicators (categorical presence/absence by taxonomy or type of disturbance). The goal is to have the local community trained on-site to be confident in conducting transect observations via both behavioral observation and GPS tracking. Data analyzed from the surveys will then be used as a monitoring and management tool. Establishing the standardized methods for biodiversity monitoring adapted for community participation will be applicable for future use in other regions in Madagascar. This project has important conservation significance by providing training and motivation for local populations to have a sustainable monitoring and patrolling system for biodiversity conservation. In addition, a manual for monitoring and patrolling in other regions of Madagascar will be written for further use in other regions and also be instrumental in our work toward adding these newly monitored sites as protected areas in Madagascar."
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