Nosy Maitso
The Green Island
Welcome to Madagascar!
Madagascar was once known as Nosy Maitso, the “Green Island”. Long ago, the island was covered with lush rainforest. Today, much of the jungles have vanished, and many of the species that call the island home are under threat. The Nosy Maitso Project was a film I produce as a study abroad student in 2008. In 2009 and 2010, while working in Madagascar, I added new footage and made final edits to the film. In 2011, the film one an award for conservation merit from the International Wildlife Film Festival.
Interviews & Training Videos
Kajiala Maitso
As part of their ongoing environmental education work, Centre ValBio is building a small educational space in the heart of Ranomafana town. This facility will provide information and education to locals and tourists alike about the importance of the forest and the many ways everyone can help protect it.
Sustainable Timber
The wild rainforests of Ranomafana National Park are at risk from expanding agriculture and logging for timber. However pine trees, non-native and fast-growing, are offering an alternative to deforestation. Planted by the French a century ago, today, pine stands offer a way to harvest timber and replace pine forests with native tree species crucial for reforestation work.
Tree Nursery Program
Kajiala Maitso is a learning garden setup by Centre ValBio in collaboration with the local community in the middle of Ranomafana town. Here, Lucien and his team are growing native trees that will be replanted into the degraded parts of Ranomafana National Park. In this interview, Lucien walks us through the planting process and discusses why it is important.
Health & Hygiene
Managing the organic and inorganic waste of rural households in Ranomafana National Park is an important practice that can have impacts on community and ecosystem health. Heri is responsible for the community health & hygiene training programs at Centre ValBio. This this short training video, she explains sustainable ways in which local communities can help support a cleaner and healthier environment.
Conservation Research Interviews
Sarah Talks About Mouse Lemurs
In this interview Sarah Zohdy explains her research studying aging in mouse lemurs, one of just a few non-human primate species to experience Alzheimer’s in their old age. This unique study is helping understand the aging process in wild mouse lemurs, but may also contribute to a better understanding of this rare and painful disease.
Tim Talks About Aye Ayes
Tim Sefczek talks about his ongoing research studying the mysterious and nocturnal aye aye, one of Madagascar’s strangest inhabitants. These unique lemurs have incredible behaviors and anatomy, and very little research on them has been conducted in the wild. Tim’s study looks to identify feeding patterns of these strange and wonderful creatures.
Andrea Talks About Lemur Poop
Kajiala Maitso is a learning garden setup by Centre ValBio in collaboration with the local community in the middle of Ranomafana town. Here, Lucien and his team are growing native trees that will be replanted into the degraded parts of Ranomafana National Park. In this interview, Lucien walks us through the planting process and discusses why it is important.
DVD Extras
In this short extra from the Nosy Maitso DVD, see how Madagascar’s rare and unique landscapes are vanishing over the years. From fire to logging and agriculture, these unique jungles are under serious threat.
In this short video quiz from the Nosy Maitso DVD, test your knowledge on Madagascar’s rare and unique wildlife. Each species will be shown for just a few seconds before the species name is revealed. See if you can identify it before the name is shown.
Madagascar Photo Gallery
Explore some of my wildlife and nature photos from Madagascar during my studies and work in 2008 – 2010.