Primate ecology, rainforest conservation, and economic development: Building a national park in Madagascar

At the end of the twentieth century, the future of primate ecology is interlocked with that of the world's tropical forests. Most primate species occur in rainforests, which are disappearing at an astounding rate.^1,2 It is clear that conservation of tropical forests and their rich faunas must take place within the context of the economic development of the countries in which they are situated. Further, the conservation of these resources must prove valuable to the peoples who own them.^3–6 The international community, including World Bank and USAid, have made it a priority to fund projects combining rural development programs linked with park management.⁷ In 1987, the Malagasy government asked me to help them establish a national park at Ranomafana, in southeast Madagascar. This article provides a brief description of the route we followed establishing this park. Undoubtedly, many of the problems and opportunities we faced, and the solutions we arrived at, were unique to Madagascar at this particular time; others, I hope, will be broadly applicable to conservation efforts throughout the world.