Building a Wildlife Corridor Between Andasibe-Mantadia National Park and Analamazaotra Special Reserve
Reconnecting Forests
Restoring Lemur Futures
Why Wildlife Corridors Matter
Forest corridors reduce isolation of wildlife populations by allowing dispersal, gene flow, and recolonization between fragmented habitats.
Even narrow corridors can significantly increase connectivity for arboreal mammals, particularly small-bodied, nocturnal species such as mouse lemurs.
Corridors support long-term population viability by reducing inbreeding risk and improving adaptive potential.
Why This Landscape Is a Priority
Eastern Madagascar is a global biodiversity hotspot with exceptionally high levels of endemism.
The Andasibe–Analamazaotra region supports one of the highest diversities of lemur species in Madagascar.
Forest loss in this region occurred largely within the last 70 years, making reforestation efforts biologically meaningful, even while recognizing that original forest conditions cannot be fully replaced.
Project Overview
We are currently in the third season of building a wildlife corridor reconnecting two of Madagascar’s most important protected areas: Andasibe-Mantadia National Park and Analamazaotra Special Reserve. These forests support numerous Endangered and Critically Endangered species, including 12 species of lemurs.
Wildlife populations within these protected areas are currently isolated due to widespread deforestation that occurred primarily in the 1960s, when forest connecting the two landscapes was cleared for agriculture and cattle pasture. As a result, this region now consists of fragmented forest patches separated by an anthropogenic matrix that limits wildlife movement and gene flow.
This project is a landscape-scale, community-centered restoration effort that brings together Malagasy communities, conservation organizations, and international research institutions to reconnect two flagship forests with native seedlings,, reconnect wildlife populations, and support long-term biodiversity conservation.
Project Update:
As of June 2025, we have successfully planted 60 hectares of native forest.
Reforestation Science Behind the Project
Replant 1,500 native tree seedlings per hectare across a total of 150 hectares (1 hectare = 2.47 acres) to increase canopy cover and structural connectivity between forest fragments.
Prioritize native tree species that support long-term forest development and wildlife habitat while recognizing that reforested areas cannot fully replace old-growth forest.
Support and expand local native tree nurseries to ensure seedling availability and strengthen local capacity.
Employ 12 local community members to prepare land, plant native seedlings, and monitor seedling survival, ensuring consistent implementation and stewardship.
Focus reforestation efforts on reconnecting existing forest fragments to reestablish a continuous forested pathway for wildlife movement.
Monitoring Corridor Effectiveness
Establish long-term monitoring sites within the landscape between Andasibe-Mantadia National Park and Analamazaotra Special Reserve.
Evaluate wildlife use of reforested areas using passive acoustic monitoring, camera traps, and complementary field methods.
Track seedling survival and growth to assess reforestation success and refine planting strategies over time.
Assess changes in wildlife presence to determine whether reforested habitat supports sustained use, rather than short-term or incidental movement.
Integrate monitoring with community-based research and ecotourism initiatives that provide long-term employment and local engagement.
Community and Conservation Outcomes
Community-led reforestation strengthens conservation outcomes by aligning biodiversity goals with local livelihoods.
Long-term employment and training opportunities reduce pressure on remaining forest resources.
Conservation initiatives are most effective and durable when local leadership, knowledge, and stewardship guide implementation.
Principal Investigator
Dr. Kim Valenta, Mad Dog Initiative (grant-holding organization), University of Florida
Collaborators (alphabetized by surname)
Mrs. Aina Andrianjafisoa, Ecovision Village
Dr. Andrea Baden, Hunter College Primate Molecular Ecology Lab
Mr. Kazim Bakar, Ecovision Village
Dr. Zach Farris, Appalachian State University
Mr. Radoniaina Rafaliarison, Mad Dog Initiative
Dr. Ange Nandrianina Raharinirina, Mad Dog Initiative
Mr. Claude Rakotoarivelo, Mad Dog Initiative, TDARFAC
Dr. Rindra Rakotoarivony, University of Antananarivo
Dr. Justorien Rambeloniaina, TDARFAC
Mrs. Irène Toutoune Ramanantenasoa, Association Mitsinjo
Dr. Jean-Freddy Ranaivoarisoa, University of Antananarivo
Mr. Jhoanny Rasojivola, TDARFAC
Ms. Kim Rivera, Urban Wildlife Information Network, Lincoln Park Zoo
Dr. Abigail Ross, TDARFAC, University of Florida
Andasibe Commune
PhD Students
Ms. Caitlynn Filla, University of Florida
Mr. Thomas Kelly, University of Florida
Ms. Mauricette Rajaobelina, University of Antananarivo
Mr. Rolland Pascal Ramaherison, University of Antananarivo
Lemur Species Within This Landscape
Aye-aye, Daubentonia madagascariensis (Endangered, Population Declining)
Black and white ruffed lemur, Varecia variegata (Critically Endangered, Population Declining)
Brown lemur, Eulemur fulvus (Vulnerable, Population Declining)
Diademed sifaka, Propithecus diadema (Critically Endangered, Population Declining)
Eastern woolly lemur, Avahi laniger (Vulnerable, Population Declining)
Goodman’s mouse lemur, Microcebus lehilahytsara (Vulnerable, Population Declining)
Gray bamboo lemur, Hapalemur griseus (Vulnerable, Population Declining)
Greater dwarf lemur, Cheirogaleus major (Vulnerable, Declining)
Greater sportive lemur, Lepilemur mustilinus (Vulnerable, Population Declining)
Hairy-eared dwarf lemur, Allocebus trichotis (Endangered, Population Declining)
Indri, Indri indri (Critically Endangered, Population Declining)
Red-bellied lemur, Eulemur rubriventer (Vulnerable, Population Declining)
Funding Sources
IUCN SOS, LUSH Cosmetics, Re:wild, Seacology, Urban Wildlife Information Network—Lincoln Park Zoo
