Our Mission

We aim to develop and manage a community-based Ecotourism venture that benefits the people of Bobaomby while promoting the conservation of local biodiversity.

Our Vision

We envision a future in which the people of Bobaomby live sustainably according to their own needs and aspirations, and in productive harmony with local ecosystems in which they are agents, and not enemies, of Biodiversity conservation.

Articles

Managing community-based conservation in Bobaomby, Madagascar

Conservation and development projects that prescribe the participation of local stakeholders in decision-making around the sustainable management of their own ecosystems have become commonplace in Madagascar in recent decades, as have scholarly critiques questioning the likelihood that such “community-based conservation” (CBC) efforts can achieve the win-win scenarios they purport to offer Malagasy communities and ecosystems...

About Us

BACKGROUND OF OUR WORK AND ORGANIZATION

BNC (Bobaomby Nature Conservation) is a registered Non-profit, Non-Governmental Organization based and working in Antsiranana, the northernmost province of Madagascar. Our work with local communities in the area of Ampombofofo, BOBAOMBY, focuses on the Conservation of local Ecosystems and Biodiversity, and the Development of the community-based Ecotourism in the region. We have been working in these communities since 2013 with the intention of helping local people alleviate their extreme poverty while empowering them as agents of Conservation who will protect endangered Fauna and Flora in the region.

Conservation

BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

We discovered the area of Bobaomby in 2009, during our field trip and we got out first funding from the Rufford Small Grant Foundation in 2013 to conduct a preliminary research project to collect data on the biodiversity,the socio-economic and the livelihood of the area. Thanks to the collected data of this first step which affirm the richness of the area in term of Biodiversity and its important potentiality on an ecotourism project as an alternative source of income for villagers, we got our second fund, from the Rufford Small Grant Foundation again for the continuation of the project on 2015. The year 2016 and until nowadays we are still continuing our work and now the project have established a Non-Governmental Organization called BNC (Bobaomby Nature Conservation). ...read more

CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE

The project is undertaken in about the total of 6679,89 ha which is formed by dry deciduous forest, mangrove forest, Baobabs and, beaches. The site is composed by the sandstone geology that has created a unique habitat matrix of semi-humid dry deciduous forest and mangrove forests that protect the eastern coast of the fourth biggest island in the world from natural disaster. The main focus of this project is not only a study of a single species of fauna or flora but a study and conservation of the entire Biodiversity of the area and its habitat to make it as an Ecotourism destination. At the project sites, the species has traditionally been protected by local taboos but direct threats are now increased mainly due to hunting and habitat degradation from artisanal charcoal production. This project is undertaken to prevent a total disappearance of a forest that is habitat of many endemic and endangered fauna and flora. ...read more

CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES

Awareness Campaign and Community Empowerment

The environmental education awareness campaign is an eﬀactive tool for not only raising awareness among those who participate in the campaign, but also among the larger communities who have observed the program.

Research Assistant and Reciprocal Exchange program

We provide opportunities to learn from one another. Foreign scientists are able to conduct research and field studies surrounding Anjiabe and Ampombofofo and can be assisted by young villagers and the project team and student from the University of Antsiranana.

Key Research Themes

RESEARCH ON MANGROVE

The project site has an important Mangrove forest which is located in Ratabirano and Ambavarano, north part of Anjiabe and before attaining the beach of Ratabirano you will first follow this 2km of Mangrove forest. The main species of mangrove trees there are: Misotry (Avicennia marina), Honko Lahy (Rhizophora mucronata), Farafaka (Sonneratia alba), Tsitologniny (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza), Honko vavy (Ceriops tagal). The Mangrove forest is also where the habitants of Ampombofofo collect crabs and honey. ...read more

PRIMATOLOGICAL RESEARCH

There are large troops of crowned lemurs (Eulemur coronatus) which is classiﬁed as Endangered (EN) in the IUCN Red List. They are an essential part of functioning ecosystem, as they are directly related to the structure and composition of habitats by their role as seed dispersers (Brewer and Rejmanek,1999), pollinators (Jansen et al.1981; Fleming and Sosa,1994; Carthew and Goldingay,1995). ...read more

BAOBABS STUDY

The site is habitat of the giant Baobabs which is endemic to the north of Madagascar, “Andasonia Suarenzis” and “Andasonia Madagascarensis”. For the local communities Baobabs are considered as sacred tree.

RESEARCH ON BATS

The site is habitat of the Fruits Bats, Madagascar flying fox which is classified as Vulnerable in IUCN Red List. The existence of fruit bats is ecologically significant as they act as a major component in seed dispersal, hence help in the reforestation.

ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH

The main villagers’ activities are to raise cattle (zebu), collect bees honey from the forest, go fishing, work in rice field during the rainy season and making charcoal during the dry season as source of income to compensate the insufficient rice production This tribe (Anjoaty) is very conservative and famous on having traditional belief and still have the prestigious values of their identity and still have strong respect for their culture and ancestor’s belief. There are many different traditional events that they respect. Their land and forest are composed by many sacred places where legend and history were born. This culture of Taboos is particularly interesting because most of the Taboos in this village are related to how they keep “conserve” the primary forest. ...read more