What We Do

Man and the Environment has been working for biodiversity conservation through the involvement of local communities for more than 30 years, creating conservation areas that include 24 species of lemurs. The NGO works on the development of sustainable use of natural resources as a driver of biodiversity dynamics and natural habitats restoration.

How We Protect Lemurs And Other Wildlife

Habitat Protection

Man and the Environment identifies strict conservation areas required for lemurs and other species. It trains and employs community rangers to ensure their protection, but also identifies opportunities to restore forest areas to increase available land and connectivity between isolated forest blocks. Over the past 20 years, more than 480,000 trees have been produced and planted around the heart of the Vohimana forest.

Ecotourism

A community based ecotourism infastructure has been built in the Vohimana Forest. The goal is to raise awareness among visitors and the Malagasy community about the site’s biodiversity and protection, and to create a sustainable income source for the local people working on the project.

Environmental Policy

We promote sustainable lemur conservation through the design of management plans, including local communities’ development and private sector involvement.

What Lemur Species We Protect

Vohimana Mid-altitude Eastern Rainforest

• Indri (Indri indri)
• Diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema)
• Black and white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata)
• Common brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus)
• Red-bellied lemur (Eulemur rubriventer)
• Eastern lesser bamboo lemur (Hapalemur griseus)
• Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
• Eastern woolly lemur (Avahi laniger)
• Hairy-eared dwarf lemur (Allocebus trichotis)
• Furry-eared dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus crossleyi)
• Weasel sportive lemur (Lepilemur mustelinus)
• Goodman’s mouse lemur (Microcebus lehilahytsara)

Ambohidravy Sacred Forest

Humid western forest and mangrove close to Ambanja city

• Black lemur (Eulemur macaco)
• Gray-backed sportive lemur (Lepilemur dorsalis)
• Sambirano mouse lemur (Microcebus sambiranensis)
• Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
• Pariente’s fork-marked lemur (Phaner parienti)
• Northern giant mouse lemur (Mirza zaza)
• Common brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus)
• Western lesser bamboo lemur (Hapalemur occidentalis)

Ambalakalanoro Dry Western Forest

• Coquerel’s sifaka (Propithecus coquereli)
• Mongoose lemur (Eulemur mongoz)
• Milne-Edwards sportive lemur (Lepilemur edwardsi)
• Western woolly lemur (Avahi occidentalis)
• Common brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus)
• Golden-brown mouse lemur (Microcebus ravelobensis)

Mont Passot Humid Forests on the island of Nosy Be

• Hawk’s sportive lemur (Lepilemur tymerlachsoni)
• Black lemur (Eulemur macaco)
• Western lesser bamboo lemur (Hapalemur occidentalis)

How We Support Local Communities

Community Partnerships and Sustainability

Community involvement is the key to the functioning of Man and the Environment. At each site, the programmes began with a validation of the conservation objectives by the traditional representatives of the local communities. They remain involved at all stages of the projects and local associations are supported to take charge of income-generating activities compatible with the conservation of lemurs (Lemurs Friendly certified products) but also forest protection and restoration operations. Ecotourism is on Vohimana a community run operation with the support of the NGO.

Social Support

Rural communities in Madagascar are extremely poor in most regions.  Thus, L’Homme et l’Environnement builds—and supports the construction and operation of—schools at each of its sites. A health center has also been established at the Vohimana site, and health initiatives are supported at Ambohidravy and Mont Passot.

Sustainable Agriculture and Productivity Improvement

In the eastern forest, the pressure on the forests remains major for agricultural production through slash-and-burn farming, which is a survival crop. Through the development of local production of essential oils, it has been possible to quickly generate alternative income and then to switch the entire Vohimana population from slash-and-burn farming to perennial agroforestry.

On the other sites, the improvement of rice fields outside key areas for lemurs and the diversification of agroforestry production makes it possible to improve the living conditions of local populations without increasing agricultural land, or even by reducing it.