Lot II F 14 P Bis A – Andraisoro ; BP 5181, 101 Antananarivo
Tél. +261(0) 202 252 379 / 324 093 690 / 331 224 372
voakajy@voakajy.mg
Lot 352 Bis/III, Moramanga Ambony, 514 Moramanga
Tél. +261(0) 205 690 732 / 341 570 461
www.madagasikara-voakajy.org
PROJECT FINAL REPORT
Initiating village-based chameleon conservation in
southern Madagascar
Project start date: 01 June 2012
Project end date: 31 July 2013
Submitted to:
The Van Tienhoven Foundation
Naturalis Biodiversity Center
PO Box 9517
2300 RA Leiden
The Netherlands
On: 15 August 2013
Prepared by :
-
Raphali Andriantsimanarilafy
-
Christian Randrianantoandro
-
Julie Hanta Razafimanahaka
Promote the conservation and sustainable use of Malagasy ecosystems, habitats and species, by mitigating key
threats through targeted actions and applied research, for the benefit of Malagasy people
CONTENT
SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 3
I.
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 4
II.
METHODS ........................................................................................................................... 5
II.1.
General approach ......................................................................................................... 5
II.2.
Project area ................................................................................................................... 5
II.3.
Project stakeholders ...................................................................................................... 6
III.
OUTPUTS ........................................................................................................................ 7
III.1.
Increase tree availability for chameleons ....................................................................... 7
III.2.
Reduce irrational tree harvesting ................................................................................... 8
III.3.
Increase availability of fuel-wood ................................................................................... 8
III.4.
Reduce direct mortality .................................................................................................. 9
III.5.
Chameleon monitoring .................................................................................................. 9
IV.
NEXT STEPS ................................................................................................................. 11
V.
Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 12
REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................... 13
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................... 14
2
SUMMARY
The Belalanda chameleon, Furcifer belalandaensis, is among the most threatened vertebrate in
the world. Found only in and around the village of Belalanda, in southwestern Madagascar, this
species uses the trees in the villages as principal habitat. Direct mortality of chameleons occurs
when they are tortured by children or hit by cars passing in the village. Threats on the habitat are
tree harvesting for charcoal production that will also reduce food availability and isolate the
chameleons in a few trees. This project aims to mitigate these threats by educating children not
to kill the chameleons, placing go-slow signs for drivers, marking mature trees in the villages and
planting more trees in and around the villages. Three villages were targeted: Belalanda,
Belitsake-Tanambao and Sakabera. In total, 78 children participated in the education program,
two signs were placed in Belalanda, 806 mature trees were marked and 264 trees were planted.
Only 35% of the planted trees survived after the cyclone. Chameleon monitoring revealed that
F. belalandaensis is still occurring in the project area, and this project will also benefit another
threatened species F. antimena. This project involved all stakeholders in Belalanda area through
the organization of a workshop at the beginning and the end. Local communities reported the
existence of chameleon collection for the international pet trade in Belalanda area. The next
steps of this project will consist in evaluating effectiveness of the education program and doing
more if necessary, monitoring the mature trees as well as the ones just planted, planting more
trees and raising awareness on the international pet trade rules.
The Belalanda chameleon Furcifer belalandaensis: male (left) and female (right)
The Antimena chameleon Furcifer antimena: male (left) and female (right)
3
I.
INTRODUCTION
Madagascar is home to 84 species of chameleons, all endemic of the island. For most people in
Madagascar, chameleons are not as important as trees or lemurs, they are even considered as
frightening or get tortured by children. Hence, they are neglected on most biodiversity
conservation and protected area management plans. Although Malagasy chameleons are much
appreciated on the international pet trade and could become an important source of income for
the country if adequately managed. However, most species are declining due to habitat loss.
Currently, there are 40 threatened Malagasy chameleons, of which three are Critically
Endangered, 20 Endangered and 17 Vulnerable (IUCN, 2013).
Biologists from Madagasikara Voakajy became concerned by an increase in tree harvesting for
charcoal in the dry forests around Belalanda village north of Toliara. These trees are important
habitats for two threatened chameleon species (Furcifer belalandaensis and F. antimena) and
were once revered as they provided important shade for both people and domestic livestock but
are now being lost at an alarming rate.
Madagasikara Voakajy and the regional office of the Ministry of Environment and Forests
organized a workshop in March 2011 to develop a Species Conservation Strategy for the
Belalanda chameleon F. belalalandaensis, then considered as the rarest vertebrate in
Madagascar (Raxworthy, 2000). This strategy outlined the goals, objectives and activities that
need to be implemented over the next five years (2012 – 2016). Because the Belalanda
chameleon only occurs in villages, the strategy is closely linked to improving the environmental
conditions in these settlements (Andriantsimanarilafy et al. 2012). And because the strategy was
developed largely by people from the Belalanda area, there is a heavy sense of expectation that
it will be implemented.
This project aimed to improve the conservation status of chameleons in southwestern
Madagascar. It will facilitate community-based action in three coastal villages where threatened
chameleons are known to occur. We supported tree-conservation and planting initiatives, both to
provide new suitable chameleon habitat and alternative sources of fuel-wood. Parallel activities
aimed to reduce the direct mortality of the chameleon from road traffic and persecution by young
children. Overall, the project contributed to implementing the recently agreed Species
Conservation Strategy for the Belalanda Chameleon.
4
II. METHODS
II.1. General approach
This project ran from June 2012 to July 2013. It included:
i. An initial workshop to launch the project,
ii. An awareness campaign for chameleon conservation,
iii. A tree planting activity with the households, the community-organizations and the students
from primary and secondary schools,
iv. Installation of Go-slow signs to reduce chameleon mortality due to the traffic and
v. An evaluation workshop to assess project achievements compared to the species
conservation strategy.
Six field missions by Madagasikara Voakajy team were organized throughout the project
duration (Table 1).
Table 1: Field missions organized for the project implementation
Month
Sep. 12
Oct. 12
Dec. 12
Feb. 13
No Days
07
14
15
12
May 13
Jul.13
10
13
Activities
Project launch workshop
Trees inventory and meeting with local people
Monitor chameleons and planting trees with households
Monitor chameleons , plant trees with two local associations and
students in secondary school
Monitor planted trees and chameleons
Install Go-slow signs, monitor planted trees and conduct project
evaluation workshop
II.2. Project area
This project was carried out at three villages around Belalanda area in southwestern
Madagascar. These villages are located north of Tulear near of the Fiherena river and are
traversed by the national road number 9 (RN 9). This road is the only access to the most famous
tourist site of Mangily and to other villages in the north of Tulear region (Fig. 1).
5
Fig. 1: Project site and the extent of occurrence (EOO) of the target species Furcifer antimena
II.3. Project stakeholders
In addition to Madagasikara Voakajy and the regional representative of the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, this project involved:
-
Two local community-organizations (FIMAB and FITAMITO) based in Belalanda and
Sakabera
WWF office in Toliara, who are promoting the PK32 Ranobe New Protected Area (NPA)
And all other regional and local authorities.
6
III.
OUTPUTS
III.1. Increase tree availability for chameleons
Chameleons were generally found on three tree species: Azadirachta indica, Ziziphus
spinachusti and Erhetia corymbosa. We planted a total of 264 trees of eight plant species 90
Azadiractha indica, 25 Psidium guajava, 25 Citrus sinensis, 27 Delonix regia, 15 Annona
squamosa, 25 Terminalia catappa and 57 Spondias dulcis between December 2012 and
February 2013 (Fig. 2). Due to the inundation caused by cyclone Haruna in March 2013, only 94
of these survived in May 2013 (Fig. 3).
Fig. 2: Photos of the planted trees: left to right Azadiractha indica, Terminalia catappa, Spondias
dulcis and Delonix regia
Fig. 3: Number of trees planted and survived per species in Belalanda area
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III.2. Reduce irrational tree harvesting
During the meeting held in October 2012 (Fig. 4), the population agreed not to cut the trees in
the villages for making charcoal. Therefore, all trees (n = 806) in the three villages were marked
(Fig. 5): 331 in Belalanda, 161 in Belitsake-Tanambao and 314 in Sakabera. Two plant species
are dominant in these villages: Azadiractha indica with 376 trees and Ziziphus spinachusti with
194 trees. Generally, tree harvesting occurs between July and October. Another monitoring is
planned for October 2013.
Fig. 4: Photos from the meeting with the villagers in Belitsake-Tanambao (left) and Sakabera
(right) in October 2012
Fig. 5: Examples of marked trees - Azadiractha indica in Sakabera (left) and Ziziphis spinachusti
in Belalanda (right)
III.3. Increase availability of fuel-wood
Species commonly used by the population as fuel-wood and for making charcoal are Acacia
mangium and Azadiractha indica. In total, 60 trees belonging to these species (respectively 40
Acacia mangium and 20 Azadirachta indica) were planted specifically to be used as fuel-wood.
Only ten of them survived in May 2013. It will take about five years for these trees to be
exploitable. At the evaluation workshop, communities engaged to carry out tree planting
activities annually to avoid depleting their tree stock.
8
III.4. Reduce direct mortality
Chameleons found by children are habitually tortured and killed in Madagascar. We carried out
an education campaign at three schools in Belalanda and Sakabera. A chameleon identification
guide (Randrianantoandro et al. 2012) was presented to the students so that they are aware of
the different species in their area and the diversity of chameleons in Madagascar (Fig. 6).
Fig. 6: Students in Sakabera (left) and Belalanda (right) with the chameleon identification guide.
Another cause of direct mortality is the traffic. Chameleons cross the road very slowly and can
be stepped on by drivers. Two Go-slow signs were installed at the entrance of Sakabera and
outside of Belalanda village in July 2013. Another sign explaining the situation of the project’s
target species was set up at the roadside in the village of Belalanda (Fig. 7). This was timed to
coincide with the increase of the traffic because of the tourism.
Fig. 7: Go-slow (left) and information (right) signs posted in Sakabera and Belalanda to warn
drivers and inform travellers on the chameleon conservation project.
III.5. Chameleon monitoring
During each field trip, we monitored the number of chameleons found at these villages, identified
the species and age, and measured them. During each monitoring, we observed more Furcifer
antimena than F. belalandaensis. The maximum of the observation for each species was in
February with 71 individuals for F. antimena but it was in December with four individuals for F.
belalandaensis (Fig. 8).
9
Fig. 8 : Number of chameleons (F. antimena and F. belalandaensis) observed during the
monitoring between December 2012 and May 2013.
We observed hatchling in December and during this season we have numerous juvenile. We
observed Furcifer antimena adult for all of the fieldwork and they are more in February. The
minimum of the observation was in May and marked by the non observation of
F. belalandaensis. During all monitoring, we did not observe gravid females for both species
(Fig. 9).
Fig. 9 : Age structure of Antimena chameleons (F. antimena) during the surveys in December
2012, February and May 2013.
10
IV.
NEXT STEPS
The evaluation workshop identified the following actions as key to chameleon conservation in
southwestern Madagascar:
1. Monitor and plant more trees
Trees are the only habitat of chameleons in the villages. Dispersion and isolation of trees in the
village remains a limiting factor for the movement of animals. In addition, trees are generally cut
by men for the production of coal and other energy source. In this case, increasing the number
of trees in the villages is important because it improves habitat for chameleons and are both a
source of energy for local people in the future.
2. Raise awareness of the population on the pet trade regulations and biodiversity
conservation
In addition to habitat loss, collection (legal or illegal) for the international pet trade could present
an important threat to chameleons if not properly managed. The three villages are the important
sites for reptile collection for the international trade in the southwestern Madagascar. The lack of
knowledge about the species that can be collected and the collection regulations by local people
is limiting the control of this activity at the local level. To improve biodiversity conservation at the
local level it is important to involve these people in the control system of collection including the
need for them to have knowledge of commercial species and their role in the conservation and
control of the collection
3. Raise awareness of the children on biodiversity conservation
The children of the region are used to play and/or to kill reptiles. This behaviour needs to be
changed to ensure long-term conservation of chameleons. This should be achieved through
regular awareness campaign and local monitoring.
11
V.
CONCLUSION
This project is of great importance in the conservation of the biodiversity of Madagascar and
even global. Activities are carried out with the strong participation of the local people, students
and community groups. This project allows the residents to know the existence of important and
endangered species in their region.
This project allows us to increase the availability of trees for chameleons by conducting
reforestation campaigns at the household and associations in each village. In total 94 of the 264
plants were survived after the last follow-up.
Environmental education shows a success on the students' knowledge of existing chameleon’s
species in their region. These students also know the importance of chameleons and other
biodiversity in the food chain that binds to human life.
Research activities identify the observation period following maximum individual age of the
animal. Juveniles are more numerous in December which means that the outbreak occurred
before this period. The observation of adults and juveniles during the same period (December
and February) indicates that there are two or three individuals from the different generation
which means the species can live more than one year.
Suggestions and wishes of local people about the continuity of the project was highlighted during
the workshop project evaluation which means the activities carried out in this project have
positive hits on the conservation of biodiversity in these areas.
12
REFERENCES
Andriantsimanarilafy, R. R., Randrianantoandro, J. C., Andriamahafaly, M. N., Randrianizahana,
H., Rasolondranaly E., Jenkins, R. K. B. (2012). Stratégie de conservation de l’espèce
Furcifer belalandaensis (caméléon du Belalanda) 2012 – 2016.IUCN (2013). IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 14 August
2013.
Randrianantoandro, J.C., Randrianasolo, H.H., Jenkins, R.K.B., Rasolofoarimanana, T.,
Andriatsimanarilafy, R.R., Hawlitschek, O., Glaw, F. (2012). Les caméléons de Madagascar
et de l’archipel de Comores du genre Furcifer. Guide d’identification de poche.
Raxworthy, C. J. and R. A. Nussbaum (2000). Extinction and extinction vulnerability of
amphibians and reptiles in Madagascar. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 2: 15-23.
13
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This project was generously funded by Darwin Initiative and the Van Tienhoven Foundation. The
Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Direction Régionale de l’Environnement et des
Forêts Atsimo-Andrefana provided us with the permit to carry out the project. Assistance and
advice were received from WWF Madagascar team in Toliara and all the local and regional
authorities. This project has seen the full engagement of the communities in Belalanda,
Belitsake-Tanambao and Sakabera villages. To all, we are grateful!
14