Women Rise Receives Grant for Biodiversity Conservation
On November 22, 2023, the NGO Women Rise received a grant from Conservation Nation for the project “Empowering Communities for Sustainable Biodiversity Conservation in the South of Madagascar.” This project aims to enhance local community capacities in biodiversity conservation
Building Wildlife Monitoring Skills
To promote environmental stewardship from an early age, Women Rise launched an educational program in the public elementary schools of Manombo I, Manombo II, and Tsihaky. This program introduces the “One Health” concept, illustrating the connections between human, animal, and environmental health. Children engage in creative activities, such as drawing elements of nature, to enhance their understanding of biodiversity. Thanks to the support of local schools, teachers, and volunteers, this project has been a great success.
New Initiative for Biodiversity Awareness in Schools
Between February and March 2024, Women Rise organized a three-week training program for five members of the VEZO Community Protected Area (CPA). The training, which combined theoretical lessons and practical fieldwork, took place in Manombo, Tsifota, and Marofoty. Participants learned to identify species of lemurs, herpetofauna, and birds, use GPS devices, and accurately collect data.
Despite challenges such as weather disruptions caused by a cyclone and security issues, the training significantly improved participants’ wildlife inventory skills. Illegal logging and charcoal production were observed, highlighting the importance of this initiative. The training was led by Nambininanahary Ravelonandrianarisoa, assisted by biologists from the University of Antananarivo.
