Originally created by scientists for scientists, Madagascar Lemurs Portal (www.lemursportal.org) is a lemur databaseproject implemented by the FAPBM-GERP consortium and funded by the American Re:wild Foundation and FAPBM.
The portal is gradually migrating to become an educational medium accessible to the general public. For Madagascar Lemurs Portal, conservation is everyone’s business, hinting at the role that lemurs play in reforestation. The teams carried out awareness missions during the last quarter.
Engaging the general public in lemur conservation
Like every year, the last Friday of October is dedicated to the National Lemur Day. For 2022, the celebration of the National Day of Lemurs was held on October 28 and 29 in Morondava (Menabe Region, southern Madagascar)through exhibitions, a carnival, an awareness workshop and environmental actions. The topic «Lemurs, unique national heritage! Let us protect their habitats” was chosen for this celebration.
Being a project working on the flagship species of this country, in terms of awareness and information on lemurs, Madagascar Lemurs Portal participated in the exhibition. The goal was to highlight the various issues and problems that the conservation of lemurs and their habitats in Madagascar face. ”
Field actions were reinforced in the social media through an information campaign on the typical lemur species of theMenabe region, conducted jointly with conservation stakeholders. A fun game, organized with FAPBM, closed the campaign and three young people, two from Antananarivo and one from Majunga, won prizes.
Engaging students in lemur conservation
“The lemurs, duties and commitments of patriotic citizens on the conservation of biodiversity,” is the theme of theconference-debate organized by GERP Madagascar, to which Madagascar Lemurs Portal was invited.
It was a great privilege for the Madagascar Lemurs Portal Database Manager, Holi Rabemananjara, to develop the topic “How to engage citizens in lemur conservation through technology” before an audience of students from Oniverisity FJKM Ravelojaona (OniFRa) in Antananarivo, on November 18, 2022.
” When we learn, we know. When we know, we love and when we love, we protect, that’s why Madagascar Lemur Portal keeps on sharing all the information about these national treasures so that everyone can love and protect them.” she said during her speech.
Engaging children in protecting lemurs
A joint mission was carried out in Marojejy, managed By MNP, (northeastern Madagascar, SAVA Region) to acknowledge and implement the collaboration with the AKO project in late November. The AKO project, managed by GERP, aims to raise awareness about the conservation of endangered lemur species in Madagascar. To this end, the project is training Madagascar’s next generation to better understand the importance of lemur biodiversity, conservation issues and instill a sense of pride and responsibility.
This motivates the joint mission to demonstrate that the Lemurs Portal tools (website and mobile application) can be used as environmental education tools for children and teachers.
“Technology is one of the main factors of development, the mobile application of Madagascar Lemur Portal is an asset for us to initiate students to technology as well as to provide environmental education. » reacted Mrs Irene Simbo, Chief of Pedagogical Administration Area of Maroambihy.
