Citizen science in Madagascar: collect key scientific data to help turn this massif into a protected area!

Located in the central-west region of Madagascar, the Makay Massif is an exceptional natural sanctuary, home to rich and largely endemic biodiversity. Long protected by its geographical isolation, it is now under significant pressure threatening its fragile ecosystems.

To address this urgency, scientific data collection actions are being carried out with the aim of creating a protected area and implementing a sustainable management model.

These efforts notably rely on citizen science projects, which aim to conduct inventories of fauna and flora, behavioral studies, animal population monitoring, and to improve the mapping of the territory.
The data collected help assess the health status of the ecosystems, identify the most threatened species, and develop concrete action plans for their preservation.

Many species are studied: lemurs, reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects, arthropods, plants… and soon, fungi.

On the ground, ecovolunteers are supervised by an experienced Malagasy team, including eco-guards from local communities, who are true specialists of the Makay forests. Activities are planned about a month before departure, according to the specific needs at the time.
The adventure takes place in remote and little-explored areas, offering a complete change of scenery, far from modern comforts. This type of commitment requires flexibility, open-mindedness, and the ability to handle unexpected situations!

The role of the ecovolunteer:

- Observing and identifying endemic species;
- Collecting field data: surveys, measurements, analyses, inventories.

If you wish, you can also enhance your mission by creating artistic or audiovisual content (photos, videos, a travel journal) to raise public awareness about the beauty and preservation of this exceptional territory.