Centre ValBio
MADAGASCAR - Centre ValBio (the international Centre for Research and Training in the Valorization of Biodiversity) is located near the eastern rainforest corridor of the province of Fianarantsoa, Madagascar. Centre ValBio is situated very close to the Ranomafana National Park.
The park is managed by Madagascar National Parks, and was established in 1991 as a direct result of the discovery of the greater bamboo lemur that was thought to be extinct. Core of our work is the conservation of the bamboo habitat to ensure the long-term conservation of the lemurs.
The golden bamboo lemur is threatened with extinction - it is classified as an endangered species by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). It is a protected species under Malagasy law. Although Madagascar is rich in bamboo species, bamboo habitat is very limited, especially stands of giant bamboo, which are important for the golden and greater bamboo lemurs. Moreover, bamboos are heavily used by local people: for construction (roofs, panels, scaffolding, woven walls, parquet), water (pipes), fishing, furniture, and baskets.
This project aims to ensure the long-term conservation of populations of golden bamboo lemurs in and around Ranomafana National Park and the forest corridor. We monitor groups of golden bamboo lemurs to increase information on demography and behavioural ecology. Simultaneously, education and awareness work will be carried out with local communities to raise awareness of the biodiversity value of golden bamboo lemurs and their habitats. We train local villagers as research technicians, to support us in identifying and surveying potential new sites to find out where the species lives.
Ranomafama National Park expands over a mountainous area of 43,549 hectares. It consists of a dense moist primary tropical forest area presenting a high biodiversity. Among the plants living in the forests, many are used for medicinal purposes, some of them are carnivory plants or orchids. Apart from the many animal and plant species that make this park amazingly biodiverse, there are also ethnic people of the Betsileo and the Tanala live within the boundaries of the park Ranomafana.
All projects from this organization
The endangered golden bamboo lemurs
The golden bamboo lemur (Hapalemur aureus) was first discovered in the forests of Ranomafana, south-east Madagascar, by Bernard Meier and colleagues in 1986. Indeed the presence of this new lemur species, as well as the discovery of the presumed extinct ...
Supporting local production of medicinal plants
Traditional healers are frequently consulted by local people, who have limited access to expensive western medicine. Most treatments are based on plants (think of leaves, stems, or bark), many of which are harvested from the rainforest of Ranomafana. However, over-harvesting ...
Reforestation
Madagascar has experienced rapid and severe deforestation in recent decades – less than 10% of the forest is left. Ranomafana National Park contains 44,000 ha of forest, but its peripheral zone is being “nibbled away” as human populations increase, agricultural ...
Conservation Clubs
In order to raise awareness about the natural environment and biodiversity, Centre ValBio has developed various outreach programmes. One of the most successful of these has been the creation of Conservation Clubs – a forum for young people to get ...
Eco-tourism
The endemic bird species, the pitta-like ground roller (Atelornis pittoides) is one of the “hot” tourist attractions of Ranomafana National Park. Many tourists and birders want to see this species. However, this bird nests in ground burrows, making it very ...
Featured projects