TY - JOUR
T1 - An overdue catalyst
T2 - Limitations imposed by COVID-19 improved capacity building in community-led environmental education in Madagascar
AU - West, Kathy
AU - Tecot, Stacey
AU - Walker-Bolton, Amber D.
AU - Borgerson, Cortni
AU - Wright, Patricia C.
AU - Razafindravony, Lovasoa
AU - Andriamiadanarivo, Andry
AU - Andrianoely, Dina
AU - Celestain, Jean
AU - Elison, Pascal
AU - Jordan, Jessie
AU - Liu, Arielle
AU - Milliasse, Ramanorintsoa F.
AU - Rafidimanandray, Rhodin
AU - Ranaivoson, Tolotra
AU - Randimbiarimanana, Clara
AU - Razafindrapaoly, Be Noel
AU - Soule, Madison
AU - Aliperti, Jaclyn R.
N1 - Funding Information:
We express our eternal gratitude to the communities of Madagascar, without whom these projects would have been impossible. Photography Inspiring Children in Conservation—Thank you to village teachers Jean Celestain, Velo Mananjara, Raolisoa Aunolie, and Etlin; FARAKA conservation club leaders Beandalana Ammédé, Doxe, Poly, Verginie, and Betsara Mahafamy; and the American Society of Primatologists and private donors for funding; Centre ValBio Health, Education, and Research Program—Thank you to Dan Roper Jones, Lovasoa Rafanomezantsoa, Onjaniana Rafanomezantsoa, Alain Rasolo, Andry Andriamiadanarivo, Noel Rowe, and Ashley Maggy. Ecological Storytelling—Thank you to all Storytelling participants (Centre ValBio research technicians and Ranomafana tour guides); Tsiory Andrianavalona and ExplorerHome Madagascar Science Center; Association Des Guides Ranomafana; Jocelyn Randrianasolo and Telecentre Ranomafana; the Centre ValBio staff and Michael Docherty for logistical support; and the University of Arizona School of Anthropology and WISE Tropics for funding; Sakondry Farming—Thank you to Be Noel Razafindrapaoly, Delox Rajaona, Dolph Rasolofoniaina, Mathilde Randriamanetsy, Zipiny Razafindranoro, Velombita, Be Lexion Razafindrapaoly, Brian L Fisher, Matthew L. Aardema, and Darren Goldin for support and National Geographic and IUCN SOS for funding; Red Book Challenge Conservation Education—Thank you to all the club members for your participation. Thank you to the International Conservation Fund of Canada and private donors for financial support. We are also grateful for the excellent suggestions from two anonymous reviewers.
Funding Information:
We express our eternal gratitude to the communities of Madagascar, without whom these projects would have been impossible. —Thank you to village teachers Jean Celestain, Velo Mananjara, Raolisoa Aunolie, and Etlin; FARAKA conservation club leaders Beandalana Ammédé, Doxe, Poly, Verginie, and Betsara Mahafamy; and the American Society of Primatologists and private donors for funding; —Thank you to Dan Roper Jones, Lovasoa Rafanomezantsoa, Onjaniana Rafanomezantsoa, Alain Rasolo, Andry Andriamiadanarivo, Noel Rowe, and Ashley Maggy. —Thank you to all Storytelling participants (Centre ValBio research technicians and Ranomafana tour guides); Tsiory Andrianavalona and ExplorerHome Madagascar Science Center; Association Des Guides Ranomafana; Jocelyn Randrianasolo and Telecentre Ranomafana; the Centre ValBio staff and Michael Docherty for logistical support; and the University of Arizona School of Anthropology and WISE Tropics for funding; —Thank you to Be Noel Razafindrapaoly, Delox Rajaona, Dolph Rasolofoniaina, Mathilde Randriamanetsy, Zipiny Razafindranoro, Velombita, Be Lexion Razafindrapaoly, Brian L Fisher, Matthew L. Aardema, and Darren Goldin for support and National Geographic and IUCN SOS for funding; —Thank you to all the club members for your participation. Thank you to the International Conservation Fund of Canada and private donors for financial support. We are also grateful for the excellent suggestions from two anonymous reviewers. Photography Inspiring Children in Conservation Centre ValBio Health, Education, and Research Program Ecological Storytelling Sakondry Farming Red Book Challenge Conservation Education
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
PY - 2023/5
Y1 - 2023/5
N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus brought many primatology research programs and conservation efforts to a halt. After Madagascar closed its borders during March 2020, many on-site international project leaders and researchers returned to their home countries when their programs were delayed or canceled. Madagascar remained closed to travelers until November 2021, when it reopened to international flights. The 20-month absence of international researchers allowed many local Malagasy program staff, wildlife professionals, and community leaders to step into new leadership roles and responsibilities. Many programs that already had strong Malagasy leadership and meaningful collaborations with local communities flourished, while others either swiftly strengthened these attributes or faced challenges from pandemic-related travel restrictions. Here, we describe how the coronavirus pandemic events of 2020–2021 initiated long-overdue shifts in outdated models of internationally led primate research and education projects in communities living alongside primates at risk of extinction. We discuss the benefits and challenges of pandemic-induced changes within five primatological outreach projects, as well as how we can use these experiences to improve community-led environmental education and conservation awareness in the future.
AB - The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus brought many primatology research programs and conservation efforts to a halt. After Madagascar closed its borders during March 2020, many on-site international project leaders and researchers returned to their home countries when their programs were delayed or canceled. Madagascar remained closed to travelers until November 2021, when it reopened to international flights. The 20-month absence of international researchers allowed many local Malagasy program staff, wildlife professionals, and community leaders to step into new leadership roles and responsibilities. Many programs that already had strong Malagasy leadership and meaningful collaborations with local communities flourished, while others either swiftly strengthened these attributes or faced challenges from pandemic-related travel restrictions. Here, we describe how the coronavirus pandemic events of 2020–2021 initiated long-overdue shifts in outdated models of internationally led primate research and education projects in communities living alongside primates at risk of extinction. We discuss the benefits and challenges of pandemic-induced changes within five primatological outreach projects, as well as how we can use these experiences to improve community-led environmental education and conservation awareness in the future.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Madagascar
KW - community-based conservation
KW - education
KW - local knowledge
KW - primates
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85153584882&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85153584882&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ajp.23497
DO - 10.1002/ajp.23497
M3 - Comment/debate
C2 - 37095739
AN - SCOPUS:85153584882
SN - 0275-2565
VL - 85
JO - American Journal of Primatology
JF - American Journal of Primatology
IS - 5
M1 - e23497
ER -