Bat conservation Madagascar
Richard Jenkins
Bat Conservation Madagascar will conduct a series of projects designed to improve the capacity of Malagasy biologists to study bats and to provide relevant information on the ecology and conservation of threatened species. The project works closely with the Department of Animal Biology, University of Antananarivo, the Department of Water and Forests, School of Agronomic Sciences, University of Antananarivo, the School of Biology, University of Tulear and ANGAP (National Association for the Management of Protected Areas). Key topics to be addressed include (i) the role of a small fruit bat (Rousettus madagascariensis) in the maintenance of biodiversity through seed dispersal and germination in fragmented forests (ii) implementing the IUCN Species Action Plan for the Madagascar Sucker-footed bat (iii) understanding the relationship between two endangered species of baobab trees and their fruit bat pollinators (iv) conducting bat conservation status assessments in limestone caves and forests (v) reducing bat-people conflicts and (vi) raising the awareness about bat conservation issues. These activities will be conducted simultaneously with an initiative to develop the existing group of bat students into an independent and self-sustaining national bat conservation association.
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