Community Based Conservation Practicum: Madagascar Field Experience

This class, available to students in the Pathfinder Environmental Leadership Fellow Ampersand program, is an extension of EnSt 3060, Community-Based Conservation. In parallel with EnSt 3060, this course will guide students through travel preparation and Malagasy language learning, followed by a three-week field experience in Madagascar. The community-based conservation approach integrates a full understanding of the need for economic stability and human health priorities alongside conservation of flora and fauna. This initiative represents a partnership between Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG) and Washington University in Saint Louis. MBG has been facilitating conservation work in Madagascar for over 40 years. Among these initiatives is a Community Based Conservation Program (CBCP) in Mahabo, a ten-community commune in southeastern Madagascar within a rare forest ecosystem. Over several years MBG has established trusted relationships with rural Malagasy community members, building cooperation on community-specific, grassroots conservation efforts with indigenous communities. Program targets range from forest conservation and use to nutrition, health, food security, clean water, and education. Having conceptualized and prepared for field deployment of a CBC-supporting research project in Madagascar, this field experience entails travel to the remote rural community of Mahabo Mananivo, where students will actualize their plan. Travel is intense, including up to three days of travel each way on poorly maintained roads to reach the primitive living accommodations at the MBG Community-Based Conservation program site.
Course Attributes: BU BA; BU IS

Community Based Conservation Practicum: Madagascar Field Experience

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES 3061

Section 01