Ary Saina

By Lucía Rodríguez on September 18, 2020

Ary Saina is a group of Malagasy Conservation Biologists committed to promote scientific research and knowledge for the conservation of Madagascar’s unique but imperiled biodiversity.

How does Ary Saina work with lemur conservation?

Ary Saina leads and participates in several projects related to lemur conservation in Madagascar. Most of its members conduct research on lemur biology and ecology aiming for their conservation in their natural sites.

: Ranomafana National Park by Onja Razafindratsima

: Ihofa forest by Nancia Raoelinjanakolona

Ary Saina Study Sites by Angelo Andrianiaina

Current projects are conducted in two rainforest sites: (1) in the eastern fragmented forest of Ihofa with a focus on an assemblage of different species lemurs, including the critically threatened Indri indri and Varecia variegata; and (2) in the southeastern forest of Ranomafana National Park with a focus on both large-bodied diurnal lemurs like Eulemur rubriventer and small-bodied nocturnal lemurs like Microcebus rufus.

We also share verified scientific information and facts on our Facebook page in the Malagasy language and use easy-to-understand terminology (https://www.facebook.com/arysaina.mada), to educate the Malagasy public on the uniqueness of Madagascar’s biodiversity. We also use the platform to provide targeted outreach related to biodiversity conservation during any conservation-related celebration, such as the World Lemur Day celebration or Earth Hour.

: Indri indri by Finaritra Randimbiarison

: Microcebus rufus by Vero Ramananjato

: V.arecia variegata by Onja Razafindratsima

At Ary Saina, we believe that education is one of the most important keys to an effective conservation action plan. Therefore, we organize diverse educational and outreach activities in our field sites. We have, for instance, involved primary and secondary pupils in their field activities such as the identification of lemurs and birds and germination experiments.

How to support Ary Saina?

Volunteer! We often have volunteers assist in fieldwork activities … stay tuned for upcoming opportunities here.

MAHERY at Harvard University

By Kim Reuter on January 20, 2015

About Madagascar Health and Environmental Research (MAHERY)

There are no greater global concerns than the disappearance and destruction of our planet’s ecosystems and wildlife and the improvement of human health and food security for vulnerable human populations around the world.

Since 2004, our team has been actively researching the intersection of environmental health and human health to understand the ways in which ecosystem transformation has downstream effects on human wellbeing.

Most of our work has centered on estimating the role of bushmeat hunting in both decimating local wildlife populations (lemurs, carnivores, bats, tenrecs, etc.) and also influencing human nutrition and food security. All of our work has always been driven by and embedded in local communities to understand the psychology around illegal wildlife harvesting and to develop a paired vision for future conservation and development.

Since 2004, MAHERY has focused much of its efforts on the following bodies of research:

(1) the impact of overhunting and terrestrial wildlife declines on food security and nutrition
(2) the impact of fisheries management and marine conservation on food security and nutrition
(3) the use of traditional medicines by local people
(4) the practice of pica and geophagy
(5) barriers to accessing healthcare and adequate nutrition
(6) the role of livestock husbandry in securing adequate nutrition
(7) the role of wildlife hunting and consumption in zoonotic disease transmission
(8) the disease ecology of various infectious diseases (i.e. malaria)
In each of these research activities, we have collaborated with local organizations and trained American and Malagasy students to understand how to carry out interdisciplinary research.

Focal lemur species include: