This volunteer scheme is designed as a 10-week program starting at the beginning of January, April, July and October each year, but is split into two-week modules; allowing those of you with time constraints to still visit Madagascar and make a valuable contribution to this long-term conservation work. Volunteers can join the program for 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 weeks.

1.       Lemur & Biodiversity Research

This module investigates the impact of forest fragmentation on lemur, reptile and amphibian populations by collecting data in the littoral forests in Sainte Luce. Volunteers will be part of a long-term project to provide not only an individual account of species and forest vulnerability but also an overall perspective of issues facing biodiversity across the region. The data collected is hugely important and used nationally and internationally to highlight the plight of the unique flora and fauna in Sainte Luce.

A typical activity might be walking a lemur transect through a fragment of littoral forest – once spotted, with the help of the local guides, you will record critical data including the number and sex of certain lemur species, and sometimes observe their behaviour. Another day, you could find yourself identifying reptile and amphibian species by ‘sweeping’ the forest floor.

2.      Community Conservation

This module encompasses the human dimension of conservation in the Sainte Luce region, in particular the relationship between local livelihoods and the littoral forests. People living in Sainte Luce are highly dependent on their environment, from biotic factors (flora and fauna) to abiotic factors (for example, rainfall and soil conditions required for growing crops).

A typical activity might involve working with local households to promote the use of fuel-efficient stoves; you will be building the stoves from scratch with the help of the Azafady staff and the local community, which will involve sieving and sorting materials and then the fun (and messy!) bit of stove construction with the members of the household. Other tasks involve environmental education of children in local villages or planting, monitoring and evaluating the critically endangered palm, Dypsis saintelucei.

This volunteer project seeks to minimize its impact on the environment and work in a sustainable manner which benefits the community. Wherever possible only local suppliers are used and local people are employed, and group sizes, water usage and motorized transport are all kept to a minimum. Volunteers are taught some of the local dialect of Malagasy and made aware of local customs before starting work.

The Madagascar Conservation program offers a fantastic opportunity to help conserve Madagascar’s unique and endangered environment. Be prepared for adventurous journeys, long walks in remote forests and beautiful project sites. The work may be tough at times but rest assured the work is incomparably rewarding – we invite you to be more than a tourist!