Lemur Conservation Foundation

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IMPACT PROMISE

Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact

Appeal Snapshot

Partner:
Lemur Conservation Foundation
Location:
Madagascar, Africa
Category:
  • Endangered Species
  • Protected Area Management
  • Wildlife Conservation
Date Founded:

1996

Partner Qualifications:

  • IUCN Member
    A distinguished Member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. IUCN Members are each vetted and voted on based on an independent, rigorous assessment and external references. Learn More
  • Verified Partner
    One of Conservation Allies' staff or trusted advisors has visited this organization and verified its work and impact.
  • Legally Constituted
    This organization is formally constituted and is a legally recognized non-profit in its country of origin.
  • Top Accountability
    Our experienced team has rigorously reviewed the organization's annual accounts. Learn More
  • Effective Impact
    We recognize this Partner for their tremendous efforts to make a difference for wildlife and local communities, as well as welcome technical support from Conservation Allies to improve and scale up their impact.
  • Conservation Action Heroes
    We recognize this Partner for their high level of engagement with the Conservation Allies team and their demonstration of a clear commitment to our collective mission of making a real difference and having a major impact on wildlife and communities where it is needed most.

About The Lemur Conservation Foundation

The Lemur Conservation Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and conservation of the primates of Madagascar through managed breeding, scientific research, education, and art.  Their home base is the AZA-accredited Myakka City Lemur Reserve in southwest Florida, where about 50 lemurs live in natural forests and connected enclosures.  Species include Mongoose lemurs, Red-ruffed lemurs, Ring-tailed lemurs, Common brown lemurs, and Collared brown lemurs.  LCF has the largest population of Critically Endangered Mongoose lemurs outside of Madagascar and one of the largest populations of Critically Endangered Red-ruffed lemurs.  In northeastern Madagascar, LCF has maintained a staffed office since 2016, located in Sambava.  With 22 lemur species, including 6 critically endangered species, northeastern Madagascar has long been a primate conservation and biodiversity hotspot.  All staff members are Malagasy residents who work extensively in and around Marojejy National Park and Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve as well as inside northern Makira.  They conduct lemur surveys and research programs to protect and study Critically Endangered Silky sifakas, Indris, and Red-ruffed lemurs, which are all found in this region.  Conservation programs run by LCF include forest monitoring, lemur research, eco-tourism, environmental education, community health programs, reforestation work, and distribution of fuel-efficient stoves.

Their Challenges

Although stunningly rich in biodiversity, Madagascar is also exceptionally poor in almost every quality-of-life measure tracked by the United Nations and World Bank.  The population is exploding, and most Malagasy people live on less than $1 per day.  Poverty and political instability have undermined Madagascar’s environmental management. Slash and burn agriculture, selective logging of precious wood (rosewood and ebony), and fuel wood harvesting has accelerated deforestation and erosion, which in turn has altered microclimates, leading to droughts, forest fires, and soil degradation. Bushmeat hunting of lemurs has also increased in recent years due to a lack of alternative protein sources in rural villages as well as the emergence of a commercial bushmeat trade. 

Geographically, the steep mountainous rainforests of Marojejy National Park and Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve are one of the most difficult habitats to monitor.  The Marojejy Protected Area Complex is one of the largest rainforest landscapes in Madagascar, and the resources of one Madagascar National Parks office are stretched between two large reserves.  There is only one major paved road in the whole region; most of Marojejy and all of ASSR lack accessible roads.  The protected areas face many additional challenges, including insufficient park ranger and boundary demarcation, illegal rice and vanilla plantations inside Marojejy, and crystal mining in ASSR.  Socio-economic concerns include the decline in tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the crash of vanilla prices, and growing human population.

Their Approach

LCF is one of the primary sponsors of Marojejy National Park and Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve (ASSR), which are among the largest and least disturbed rainforest landscapes in Madagascar.  LCF’s conservation programs, based on the IUCN Lemur Action Plan, emphasize ecotourism, environmental education, research, park and lemur protection, reforestation, sustainable development, and population/health/environment (PHE) programs.  Ecotourism projects include rebuilding the dining areas, bungalows, and kitchen facilities in Marojejy, in addition to building new tent shelters, a dining area, shower, and toilet for Camp Indri, the sole camping site of ASSR.  The camps not only bring tourists and researchers, but also give local school groups a chance to view exceptional wildlife in primary forests during overnight fieldtrips led by LCF.  Madagascar National Parks collaborates closely with LCF to improve park boundary demarcation, lemur surveys, and monthly week-long forest patrols which include intensive data collection and actual enforcement.  LCF also has one of the largest family planning programs in Madagascar, supporting hospital nurses who treated over 1,300 women with 3-year contraceptive implants in 2022.  To counter deforestation in the SAVA region, LCF manages 6 tree nurseries from which 43,258 trees of 61 different indigenous species were planted in 2023. 

Why They Need Your Help

The Lemur Conservation Foundation is doing critical work on the ground in Madagascar to protect lemurs and their habitat.  They face numerous challenges and their work cannot be sustained without generous donations from the public.

Conservation Allies charges no overhead fees or administration costs, meaning 100% of your donation goes directly to the Partner or Project of your choice.  All donations made from the United States are fully tax-deductible.