Using Utilitarian Plants for Lemur Conservation

Abstract

Nature and species conservation often conflict with intensive natural resource or land use. Many protected areas are too small for long-term conservation of viable vertebrate populations, especially in Madagascar, and forests are subject to exploitation for a variety of natural resources. Trying to exclude people from the use of these resources has not been successful during economic, natural, or political crises or when human population growth outruns any development effort. People need economic and other benefits, and conservation measures have to account for these needs. We compiled native and introduced tree, shrub, and herbaceous species used by both people and native vertebrates for three regions, covering the domains of the dry, transitional, and humid forest of Madagascar. We carried out semistructured interviews and group discussions in 12 different villages in each study region in November 2017. People listed 139 utilitarian plant taxa. Our literature search revealed that 72 of these plant species and 13 genera used by people, were also used by 208 different terrestrial vertebrates including 58 lemur species. Application of the Forest Landscape Restoration approach with a combination of exotic and native plant species used by both people and animals could increase the economic value of restored forest habitats for people, thus providing incentives for forest conservation. Plantations of mixed utilitarian trees and shrubs could be integrated into agricultural landscapes. Among land-living vertebrates, lemurs seem to benefit most from this approach. These measures might contribute to a successful array of biodiversity conservation in anthropogenic landscapes.

The eco‐evolutionary history of Madagascar presents unique challenges to tropical forest restoration

“…Some evidence suggests that aggressive shrubby and herbaceous species may outcompete rain forest trees in regenerating areas, especially in heavily degraded locations where non‐forest species may be better adapted to new nutrient and fire regimes (De Wilde et al, 2012; Konersmann et al, 2021; Rasolofoharinoro et al, 1997; Styger et al, 2007). Some of these species are native to Madagascar (e.g., Dicranopteris linearis and Ravenala madagascariensis ), including those representative of fire‐tolerant ericoid thickets found in Malagasy highlands (e.g., Helichrysum bracteiferum and Philippia floribunda ), but invasion by exotic species such as Lantana camara , Rubus moluccanus , and Erica spp.…”

“…Martinez & Razafindratsima (2014) demonstrate that seed dispersal into regenerating forests by lemurs is possible, but is likely limited during early years of regeneration, farther from forest edges, and in extremely fragmented landscapes, due to a lack of habitat structure (see also Bollen et al, 2004a; Bollen et al, 2004b; de Winter et al, 2018). Incorporating lemur food plants into restoration design, especially those that are relatively fast‐growing early‐successional species, may improve seed dispersal (Konersmann et al 2021; Manjaribe et al, 2013; Peters et al, 2016; Steffens, 2020), but no published comparative studies assessing the effectiveness of this strategy currently exist. Little is known about secondary seed dispersal in Madagascar and its potential role in forest restoration, though Razafindratsima (2017) found that seed predation by rodents was lower in disturbed habitat.…”

“…In parts of Madagascar's highland landscapes, grassland might persist as an alternative stable state maintained through fire and distinct differences in microclimate, which may require considerable investment to reverse with native species in areas where forests are known to have recently occurred. In the highlands, as well as western dry forests and humid eastern littoral forests, baseline ecological conditions were +* • Species composition shifts to invasive dominance in some regenerating areas 1,5,6,7,8,16,17 13,19,20,21,22 and germination 13,23 • Large lemur species rarely venture outside intact forests, limiting dispersal capacity 18,23,24,25…”

“…1 Styger et al (2009), 2 Klanderud et al (2010), 3 Randrianarison et al (2016), 4 Brand & Pfund (1998), 5 De Wilde et al (2012), 6 Rasolofoharinoro et al (1997), 7 Styger et al (2007), 8 Bollen & Donati (2006), 9 Vincelette et al (2007), 10 Henry et al (2015), 11 Henry et al (2016), 12 Henry et al (2017), 13 Manjaribe et al (2013), 14 Rakotonoely & Ramamonjisoa, 2020, 15 Prin et al (2003), 16 Brown & Gurevitch (2004), 17 Konersmann et al (2021), 18 Martinez & Razafindratsima (2014), 19 Albert‐Daviaud et al (2018); 20 Razafindratsima (2014); 21 Razafindratsima & Martinez (2012), 22 Bollen et al (2004b), 23 Razafindratsima et al (2014), 24 Chen et al (2016), 25 Schuessler et al (2018), 26 Bollen et al, 2002, 27 Bollen et al (2004a), 28 Ramananjato et al (2020), 29 Valenta & Lehman (2016), 30 Andrianaivoarivelo et al (2011), 31 Razafindratsima, (2017), 32 Leprun et al (2009), 33 Raharimalala et al, (2012), 34 Randriambanona et al, (2015), 35 Grouzis et al, (2001), 36 Raharimalala et al (2010), 37 Randriamalala et al (2019), 38 Valenta et al (2015), 39 Barraclough & Olsson (2018), 40 Razanaka & Grouzis (2003), 41 Ehrensperger et al (2013), 42 Bloesch, (1999), 43 Winchester et al, (2018), 44 Sagar et al, (2021), 45 Ganzhorn et al, (1999), 46 Mertl‐Millhollen et al, (2011), 47 Sato, (2011), 48 Oleksy et al, (2015), 49 Oleksy et al (2017), 50 Bohning‐Gaese et al (1999), 51 Crowley et al (2011), 52 Bleher & Bohning‐Gaese (2001), 53 Fi...…”

People, Lemurs and Utilitarian Plants of the Littoral Forests in Southeast Madagascar

“…Plantations of exotic species planted in the appropriate area can reduce the pressure on the natural forest (Sedjo and Botkin 1997;Gérard et al 2015;Konersmann et al 2021). Studies have also shown that socio-cultural value of timber species increases with the increase of their availability and accessibility (Thomas et al 2009;Brandt et al 2013).…”