The lowland evergreen rainforests of Kianjavato Classified Forest, in southeast Madagascar, are home to nine species of lemurs, including 30% of the remaining population of the Critically Endangered Greater Bamboo Lemur, and is the single habitat in which the Endangered Jolly’s Mouse Lemur resides, thus classifying Kianjavato an Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) site. Re:wild partner Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership (MBP) launched a novel reforestation program in Kianjavato in 2010, engaging area residents as active stakeholders, creating ownership and accountability for long-term conservation, securing land donations from local farmers, and establishing long-term monitoring programs for three lemur species.

With community support and understanding of the economic benefit of having a healthy forest and wildlife populations, the reforestation program has expanded over the past decade. By 2020, the program included 20 satellite tree nurseries and had planted over three million trees. After hurricanes swept through Kianjavato in 2022, compromising local conservation programming, Re:wild partnered with MBP to repair damaged nurseries, scale up reforestation efforts and restore destroyed habitat.

Key Species: Greater Bamboo Lemur (Prolemur simus, CR), Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata, CR), Jolly’s Mouse Lemur (Microcebus jollyae, EN), Aye-Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis, EN)

The project start date and project description are provided from the point of view of Re:wild's support to the partner. Restoration work is focused in a more restricted area within the depicted polygon.