Madagascar: Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management

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"I loved the program’s emphasis on field research. We traveled everywhere and researched a variety of topics in completely different ecosystems. One week our group performed a botanical inventory of a section of spiny forest in the Andohahela National Park. Later we traveled to Ifotaka National Park and studied lemur behavior and habitat. Our field studies unit was a great way to see the country and learn about what makes each region unique."

Kate Wright, fall 2009 student

Study ecology in an island nation that has been isolated from other landmasses for more than one hundred million years.

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Madagascar’s unique evolutionary path has produced an immeasurable contribution to the world’s biodiversity—more than 80 percent of the flora and fauna are endemic. Classroom and field-based instruction in natural and social scientific methods encourage students to analyze environmental issues in an array of ecosystems, including rainforests, dry spiny forests, alpine and transitional forests, savanna, gallery and littoral forests, mangroves, and coral reefs.

Studies in French and Malagasy, combined with a homestay, a village stay, and numerous excursions to national parks, offer students a balanced social- and natural-science view and perspective on long-term conservation and the development needs of local populations.

In-country resources and program partners generally include:

• Azafady
• World Wildlife Federation
• Department of Natural Sciences at University of Antananarivo
• Marine Studies Institute at University of Tulear
• Libanona Ecology Center

Browse this program's Independent Study Projects/Undergraduate Research