MADAGASCAR, Antsahaberaoka Village, Marojejy National Park- January 2012
Construction of a footbridge and three primary school classrooms with furnishings and a restroom block in exchange for support of an existing 1,950 hectare (4,819 acre) rainforest reserve for a duration of 30 years
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Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world, has been recognized as one of the world’s top five biodiversity hotspots. Unfortunately, more than 90% of Madagascar's original forest cover has been lost since the time of human arrival, only 2,300 years ago. In the northeast, Marojejy National Park and Masoala National Park, two of the 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world categorized as “In Danger,” have been hard-hit by illegal logging of rosewood and ebony trees. Marojejy National Park has over 550 square kilometers of mountainous primary rainforest, and is home to 11 species of lemurs, including the critically endangered silky sifaka (Propithecus candidus). Less than 2,000 silky sifaka lemurs remain in the wild; none have ever survived in captivity. Most of the remaining population of this species is found in Marojejy National Park. One of the largest concentrations of silky sifakas is found near the north-western boundary of the reserve near the remote rural community of Antsahaberaoka. This community is pressed in against the boundary of the national park and struggles to find arable land to farm, sometimes farming inside the reserve. The people of Antsahaberaoka report that poor schools are their biggest problem, and would like a new primary school to replace their deteriorating, parasite-ridden small bamboo and wood school rooms. They would also like a 40-meter footbridge since many children (and adults) are simply unable to cross a large river to attend school or access other parts of the village during the rainy season. Seacology is providing funding for a new school and footbridge in exchange for an agreement to stop all habitat disturbance for 30 years within 1,950 hectares (4,819 acres) of Marojejy National Park that lie adjacent to their village. *
*Support for asterisked projects is provided fully or in part by: 
