Group training photo
West and Central Africa
Dickarmien Alvis
Deemie
Integrating Lemur Conservation into Education and Community Outreach through Schools and Festivals

Learning about the importance of Conservation has no age limit, and schools are a powerful entry point for long-term impact. In Fierenana, the BIOPAMA Project worked with 27 public and private primary and secondary schools to integrate lemur conservation into teaching practices. Through a series of workshops, 144 teachers were trained to incorporate environmental protection and sustainable resource management into their curricula, with a special focus on lemurs. CI also collaborated with the Ministry of National Education to embed lemur conservation into the national environmental education framework.

A highlight of this initiative was also the use of public events to raise awareness about lemur conservation. This took place through the annual Lemur Festival, organized as part of the CAZ4Lemur project. The first two editions attracted 1,200 and 1,500 participants respectively. Led by the mayor and supported by local authorities, COBAs, school representatives, and community members, the festival featured a carnival, official ceremonies, and creative activities such as poetry, theatre, and dance. Children wore lemur masks, colored themed sheets, and participated in workshops. The slogan, “Varika: tsy fiompy, tsy fihinana, fa haingo ary mampaharitra ny ala” (“The lemur is not a pet, nor food, but a beauty that preserves the forest”), captured the spirit of the event. The festival concluded with a documentary screening on lemurs and environmental protection.

Complementary activities included law enforcement training for patrollers and pre/post-festival workshops for teachers.

The success of this initiative was made possible through inclusive collaboration. The project partnered with the Ministry of National Education, specifically the Globe Program and the Directorate of Mass Education and Civics (DEMC), to develop educational modules on environmental conservation.

Fierenana’s 27 schools are supported by two ZAP (Administrative and Educational Zone) heads, who helped coordinate the cascade training model. Selected teachers were trained on lemur and habitat conservation and then tasked with training their peers. The CISCO office in Moramanga ensured alignment with national pedagogical standards. The project also worked alongside other NGOs and associations to reinforce conservation messaging across different platforms.

Educational tools such as game cards, signs, coloring pages, and lemur photos proved highly effective in sparking students’ interest in nature. However, broader distribution of these materials is needed to ensure all teachers are equipped, especially when teaching schedules overlap.

Although environmental themes are officially part of the national curriculum, integrating lemur-specific content required thoughtful preparation of tailored teaching materials. Documentary screenings also proved impactful, drawing strong interest from both students and parents.

Finally, collaboration between teachers and patrollers during field visits or nature outings greatly enhanced mutual learning. Knowledge exchanges should flow both ways—between educators, patrollers, and families—to build a stronger, more informed conservation community.

Capacity Building in Environmental Law

Due to a lack of knowledge and/or application of existing laws related to biodiversity conservation efforts in the CAZ region, the CAZ4Lemur Project focused on building legal awareness and capacity among key stakeholders. This included training members of COBAs, judicial police officers (mayors, forestry agents, gendarmes), and senior judicial officers (judges) on environmental and protected area legislation.

Through participatory workshops in Fierenana, participants learned how to identify, report, and follow up on environmental offenses. Training covered legal responsibilities, reporting procedures, and the use of tools like the ALOE app (Accès aux LOis Environnementales), which provides digital access to environmental laws. Practical simulations and case studies reinforced learning, and participants were introduced to a free hotline (#512) for reporting offenses or seeking legal guidance.

The project benefited from strong collaboration with the Moramanga CIREF (representative of the Ministry in charge of the environment and sustainable development at the District level), whose technical officers co-led sessions on biodiversity law and protected area management. Monthly reports from patrollers to CIREF include biodiversity data and threats, though delays in legal action remained a challenge. To address this, COBAs proposed applying “Dina”, a traditional community regulation associated with community self-governance of natural resources in Malagasy society—for minor offenses—allowing for immediate, locally accepted sanctions. This approach, documented in a jointly signed responsibility charter, helps maintain order while reducing administrative delays. Serious offenses were escalated to CIREF or the courts. For high-risk missions, collaboration with military or gendarmerie units was recommended to ensure safety and authority.

The success of this initiative was supported by several enabling factors. First, participants were given access to environmental law resources in both digital and printed formats, including the ALOE app, which allowed them to consult legal texts on mobile devices and computers. Second, the workshops fostered strong multi-stakeholder engagement by bringing together COBAs, women’s organizations, patrollers, local authorities, and law enforcement, encouraging collaboration and shared understanding. Finally, the involvement of CIREF in both training delivery and project oversight ensured technical accuracy and alignment with national conservation priorities, reinforcing the credibility and effectiveness of the initiative.

Several important lessons emerged from the implementation of this solution. First, the use of local enforcement mechanisms such as the “Dina” proved essential for addressing minor offenses quickly and in a way that is accepted by the community, thereby reducing the burden on formal legal institutions. However, delays in legal action from authorities were found to undermine the motivation of patrollers and community members, highlighting the need for timely and consistent enforcement. Lastly, for high-risk missions, the involvement of military or gendarmerie units was seen as crucial to ensure the safety of patrollers and to reinforce the legitimacy of enforcement actions.

Stakeholder working group
Empowering Grassroots Communities for Forest Patrol and Lemur Conservation
Capacity Building in Environmental Law
Integrating Lemur Conservation into Education and Community Outreach through Schools and Festivals
De l'inventaire à la disponibilité des données : l'atlas en ligne de la faune et de la flore du parc national des Écrins

L'atlas en ligne de la faune et de la flore du parc national des Écrins met à disposition l'ensemble des données collectées par ses agents depuis plus de 40 ans.

Biodiv'Ecrins illustre et décrit l'ensemble des espèces emblématiques ou rares du massif mais aussi toute la richesse d'une biodiversité cachée et souvent méconnue.

Il ne s'agit pas d'un inventaire exhaustif ni d'une répartition précise des espèces sur le territoire mais d'un partage des observations réalisées depuis 1973 dans le parc national des Écrins et mises à jour en temps réel.

Chaque espèce possède sa propre fiche d'identité, avec :

  • - de magnifiques photographies permettant d'identifier l'espèce
  • - la carte des observations sur le parc national
  • - des éléments de reconnaissance de l'espèce, son milieu privilégié, sa répartition mondiale
  • - les périodes et altitudes d'observation
  • - des compléments vidéo, audio, des articles, rapports, extraits de livres pour approfondir sa connaissance de l'espèce.

A l'échelle de chaque commune, il est possible de visualiser l'ensemble des espèces observées avec leur localisation, leurs statuts et les liens avec les fiches « espèce ».

Une grande galerie d'images donne à voir la richesse de la biodiversité du massif, avec la possibilité de trier les images par groupes d'espèces. Les photographies sont réalisées principalement par les agents du Parc national lors de leurs missions de terrain.

L'ensemble des observations est déjà disponible. La rédaction et l'illustration des espèces sont encore en cours. Les inventaires cités contribuent à cette collecte.

Outil de valorisation des données à l'échelle du territoire des Écrins, Biodiv'Ecrins s'inscrit dans une démarche de longue date de mise à disposition des données publiques, organisée au plan national par le Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (MNHN) dont les référentiels permettent notamment d'alimenter l'Inventaire National du Patrimoine Naturel (INPN).

Ces données contribuent aux réseaux d'échanges développés par les services de l’État avec ses partenaires institutionnels et associatifs. Dans le cadre de ces Systèmes d’Information sur la Nature et les Paysages (SINP), les données sont agglomérées et archivées, permettant d’organiser la connaissance à différentes échelles. Des échanges sont également organisés avec les partenaires associatifs qui animent les démarches participatives.

Ces réseaux d'observation et les complémentarités territoriales donnent un sens à la collecte et à la diffusion des données.

Biodiv'Ecrins utilise l'outil opensource GeoNature-atlas développé par le Parc national des Écrins. Il est ainsi transférable librement à d'autres structures qui souhaitent partager leurs observations naturalistes en se basant sur les référentiels nationaux de l'INPN.

Il fait partie d'un ensemble d'outils développés par le Parc national et ses partenaires, pour pouvoir saisir, gérer, traiter et partager les données des différents protocoles.

http://geonature.fr
https://github.com/PnEcrins/GeoNature-atlas

Depuis une dizaine d'années, le Parc national des Écrins favorise les transferts d’expériences en matière de développement numérique, le travail collaboratif et la publication des outils développés sous licence libre.

Building Block 3: Integrating Lemur Conservation into Education and Community Outreach through Schools and Festivals

Learning about the importance of Conservation has no age limit, and schools are a powerful entry point for long-term impact. In Fierenana, the BIOPAMA Project worked with 27 public and private primary and secondary schools to integrate lemur conservation into teaching practices. Through a series of workshops, 144 teachers were trained to incorporate environmental protection and sustainable resource management into their curricula, with a special focus on lemurs. CI also collaborated with the Ministry of National Education to embed lemur conservation into the national environmental education framework.

A highlight of this initiative was also the use of public events to raise awareness about lemur conservation. This took place thorugh the annual Lemur Festival, organized as part of the CAZ4Lemur project. The first two editions attracted 1,200 and 1,500 participants respectively. Led by the mayor and supported by local authorities, COBAs, school representatives, and community members, the festival featured a carnival, official ceremonies, and creative activities such as poetry, theatre, and dance. Children wore lemur masks, colored themed sheets, and participated in workshops. The slogan, “Varika: tsy fiompy, tsy fihinana, fa haingo ary mampaharitra ny ala” (“The lemur is not a pet, nor food, but a beauty that preserves the forest”), captured the spirit of the event. The festival concluded with a documentary screening on lemurs and environmental protection.

Complementary activities included law enforcement training for patrollers and pre/post-festival workshops for teachers. 

The success of this initiative was made possible through inclusive collaboration. The project partnered with the Ministry of National Education, specifically the Globe Program and the Directorate of Mass Education and Civics (DEMC), to develop educational modules on environmental conservation.

Fierenana’s 27 schools are supported by two ZAP (Administrative and Educational Zone) heads, who helped coordinate the cascade training model. Selected teachers were trained on lemur and habitat conservation and then tasked with training their peers. The CISCO office in Moramanga ensured alignment with national pedagogical standards. The project also worked alongside other NGOs and associations to reinforce conservation messaging across different platforms.

Educational tools such as game cards, signs, coloring pages, and lemur photos proved highly effective in sparking students’ interest in nature. However, broader distribution of these materials is needed to ensure all teachers are equipped, especially when teaching schedules overlap.

Although environmental themes are officially part of the national curriculum, integrating lemur-specific content required thoughtful preparation of tailored teaching materials. Documentary screenings also proved impactful, drawing strong interest from both students and parents.

Finally, collaboration between teachers and patrollers during field visits or nature outings greatly enhanced mutual learning. Knowledge exchanges should flow both ways—between educators, patrollers, and families—to build a stronger, more informed conservation community.

Building Block 2: Capacity Building in Environmental Law

Due to a lack of knowledge and/or application of existing laws related to biodiversity conservation efforts in the CAZ region, the CAZ4Lemur Project focused on building legal awareness and capacity among key stakeholders. This included training members of COBAs, judicial police officers (mayors, forestry agents, gendarmes), and senior judicial officers (judges) on environmental and protected area legislation.

Through participatory workshops in Fierenana, participants learned how to identify, report, and follow up on environmental offenses. Training covered legal responsibilities, reporting procedures, and the use of tools like the ALOE app (Accès aux LOis Environnementales), which provides digital access to environmental laws. Practical simulations and case studies reinforced learning, and participants were introduced to a free hotline (#512) for reporting offenses or seeking legal guidance.

The project benefited from strong collaboration with the Moramanga CIREF, whose technical officers co-led sessions on biodiversity law and protected area management. Monthly reports from patrollers to CIREF include biodiversity data and threats, though delays in legal action remained a challenge. To address this, COBAs proposed applying “Dina”, a traditional community regulation associated with community self-governance of natural resources in Malagasy society—for minor offenses—allowing for immediate, locally accepted sanctions. This approach, documented in a jointly signed responsibility charter, helps maintain order while reducing administrative delays. Serious offenses were escalated to CIREF or the courts. For high-risk missions, collaboration with military or gendarmerie units was recommended to ensure safety and authority.

The success of this initiative was supported by several enabling factors. First, participants were given access to environmental law resources in both digital and printed formats, including the ALOE app, which allowed them to consult legal texts on mobile devices and computers. Second, the workshops fostered strong multi-stakeholder engagement by bringing together COBAs, women’s organizations, patrollers, local authorities, and law enforcement, encouraging collaboration and shared understanding. Finally, the involvement of CIREF in both training delivery and project oversight ensured technical accuracy and alignment with national conservation priorities, reinforcing the credibility and effectiveness of the initiative.

Several important lessons emerged from the implementation of this solution. First, the use of local enforcement mechanisms such as the “Dina” proved essential for addressing minor offenses quickly and in a way that is accepted by the community, thereby reducing the burden on formal legal institutions. However, delays in legal action from authorities were found to undermine the motivation of patrollers and community members, highlighting the need for timely and consistent enforcement. Lastly, for high-risk missions, the involvement of military or gendarmerie units was seen as crucial to ensure the safety of patrollers and to reinforce the legitimacy of enforcement actions.

Local and national awareness campaign on agroecology

Agroecology is a holistic approach, often described as a practice, a science and a social movement. Agroecology is the base for all interventions suggested in this solution.

As the initiated mindset change requires a fundamental, global behavioural change, an essential part of the efforts are directed to advocacy and awareness building activities such as information spreading through media houses, social media channels and conducting field visits with stakeholders from government, policy makers, educational entities, NGOs, donors and the private sector. 

Malawi has a population of around 22 million (worldometer 2025), of which almost 18 million are smallhoder farmers. If the initiated grassroot movement can be strengthened, Malawi could act as a leader in the global agroecological movement.

In times of climatic and economic crisis, smallholder farmers in Malawi are very vulnerable in terms of food security. 

Microcredits for smallholder farmers who venture into (agricultural) businesses are more likely to transition to agroecology, as long as their basic needs are covered.

It is fundamental to involve governmental agricultural extension officers, as they are long-term stakeholders who monitor and accompany the practical implementers in the field, the smallholder farmers. 

To accelerate this process, strong advocacy efforts are needed on national level that push for policy shifts and their implementation. 

Biofertilizer and biopesticde production for restoration of natural soil fertility

27 farmers benefitted directly from learning how to prepare their own biofertilizers and biopesticides with locally available ingredients. The goal is to gradually reduce mineral fertilizers and chemical pesticides until it they are completely quitted.

If participating smallholder farmers are supported with materials to prepare their own biological amendments and are guided in the production and application, they are more likely to prepare these themselves and more likely to quit chemical-synthetical prodcuts.

Local, regional and national advocacy meausres are required to build awareness among all stakeholders. 

Collaborating for Sustainable Impact in Freshwater Aquaculture: State-Level Multi-Stakeholder Platforms

To strengthen the enabling environment for sustainable freshwater aquaculture, state-level Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP) were initiated in the states of Assam and Odisha. The platforms were designed to bring together actors from government, the private sector, cooperatives, academia, and civil society to collectively address sector-specific challenges and align efforts across policies and programs.