MADAGASCAR, Manafiafy - January 2010
Reintroduction and monitoring of 3,000 critically endangered palms; environmental education in two village schools; and construction of a permanent research monitoring station, kitchen, and guard house in support of the protection of 1,038 acres of rare littoral (coastal) forest
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Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world, has been recognized as one of the world’s top eight mega-biodiversity countries with some of the planet’s most threatened ecosystems. Approximately 80% of Madagascar’s plants and animals are endemic. 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 2005, the nonprofit organization Azafady successfully completed their previous Seacology funded-project with the construction of tree nurseries, and camps for workers and volunteers, for local community monitoring of a rare littoral forest. Azafady's current main environmental program, called Project Voly Hazo (“planting trees”), includes the reintroduction of two critically endangered endemic palm species grown in the Seacology-funded nurseries: Dypsis saintelucei and Beccariophoenix madagascariensis into the 1,038-acre S17 coastal forest fragment. With Seacology’s assistance, Azafady will transport, replant, and monitor these palms while also conducting environmental education related to this project in several local schools. To facilitate long-term monitoring, they also plan to build a permanent research station, kitchen and guard house, as requested by the community during a public consultation when designating the protected areas. 
UPDATE June 2010 - As of June 2010 field representative Erik Patel reports that numerous pre-project community meetings have been held and the purchase and transport of most of the building materials to the construction site has been completed. Additionally, construction has been completed on the Research Station Sitting House (which has been named the "Seacology House") and the guard house. Approximately 500 seedlings of rare palms (Dypsis saintelucei) have been transplanted.
Indicates full or partial funding by Seacology Germany
