Social and Environmental Projects
in Madagascar

Ecology Centre

The Libanona Ecology Centre (LEC) was set up at Fort Dauphin, southern Madagascar, in 1995 to tackle the environmental problems and issues facing the area, and employs both trained Malagasy research staff and local people.

Providing a Local Resource

It provides educational opportunities for students and local people to learn about and develop skills in resource management.

Through networking with village populations, the Centre contributes to the development of appropriate ecological monitoring systems which track environmental problems, and identify practices which are ecologically damaging and likely to further undermine the forests and other essential resources.

Student training programs which involve local people and villagers can then be set up to establish more sustainable farming, forestry and fishing practices in the villages. In this way, the Centre acts as an important local resource.

The Centre also acts as a meeting place for other local NGOs and partner organisations and affords opportunities to share resources and information. Existing projects can benefit from these associations and new projects find the structures to develop local support and networks.

Where is the Centre

The Libanona Ecology Centre for Field Biology and Conservation is situated on a beautiful promontory on the southern coast of Madagascar, near Fort Dauphin. It is housed in several wooden bungalows built by the Lutheran missionaries nearly 100 years ago and situated close to some of the most the stunning and biologically diverse habitats in the country.

The Centre is ideally located for training students being situated within a range of habitats probably unparalleled in any other area of the world. Even by Malagasy standards the south-east is exceptional in the diversity of ecosystems.

Within a radius of 50km can be found marine habitats, mangroves, littoral forests, montane rainforest, large rivers, small streams and the unique spiny desert. The Libanona Ecology Centre's program takes a multidisciplinary approach in preparing future ecologists.

What Does the Centre Do

The centre currently provides higher education for local people and most specifically has launched a BAC ++ programme in Ft Dauphin.

Find out more at the CEL website.

The Centre Also Welcomes Overseas Visitors

Although the Centre is primarily involved in training Malagasy conservationists, visiting scientists and international students are also welcome, provided they are able to fund themselves and contribute expenses for their stay. In addition, since being established, the Centre has opened some of the summer courses to visiting American and Canadian students. International Students Help Local Students

The fees provided by these foreign students considerably subsidises the costs of training Malagasy students. Furthermore, tutors at the Centre have commented on the considerable benefits, to both Malagasy and foreign students, from their interaction. Malagasy students benefit from observing the confident and assertive questioning of the foreign students, who in turn reappraise their own interests by watching the enthusiasm and commitment of the Malagache students.

How to Stay at Libanona

If you would like to stay at the LEC and need further information please contact us. Full contact details can be found on the CEL Website.