International Women's Day 2024
This International Women’s Day we’re sharing the inspiring stories of women who are leading the way in conservation, and how their inclusion is making a tangible difference in the world.
In honour of this year’s theme of inclusion, we’re excited to share the stories of how women are being integrated into two vital conservation projects in Madagascar and Borneo. These projects not only aim to protect endangered species and their habitats but also strive to empower and uplift the local communities, especially the women who play a crucial role in the projects’ success.
We also caught up with Dr Ximena Velez-Liendo, whose life’s work has centred around understanding and protecting Andean bears.
The Malagasy Nursery Project
We’re working with a team of dedicated women in Madagascar to fight against deforestation through the Malagasy Nursery project, which aims to grow forest-saving hedges throughout local farmland.
In 2022, Dr. Claire Raisin, along with two Chester Zoo colleagues, visited a new project in Mahabo, Madagascar, alongside a team from Missouri Botanic Gardens (MBG). They explored the Agnalazaha Forest, one of the largest remaining fragments of littoral forest in Madagascar, found near the coast on sandy soil.
Local farmers rely on the land to grow crops, which need to be protected from freely roaming cattle. To do this they annually chop down woody stems from this forest to build fences, damaging its quality and making it vulnerable to fire and sea-winds. This deforestation threatens wildlife, including the critically endangered white-collared lemur. As a more sustainable solution, MBG is working with farmers to introduce hedge-like barriers instead, starting with temporary barbed wire fences while plants grow.
The project has since employed and trained 10 unmarried mothers in botanical nursery care techniques. A creche is provided for their children during working hours, and the staff receive training in skills like chicken rearing, hygiene, family planning, and maternal care.
These women’s efforts will produce plants for the hedges, including species with medicinal properties or edible fruit, ensuring a sustainable and diverse habitat.