A Week in Africa

1. A Week in Africa Saving Madagascar Jennifer Naymick

2. Madagascar Facts • Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island after Greenland, New Guinea, and Borneo. Madagascar is located in the western Indian Ocean. If we flew from San Francisco to Antanananarvio, the capital of Madagascar it would be 11,00 miles and 23 hours of flight time. • Madagascar can be divided into five geographical regions: the east coast, the Tsaratanana Massif in the north, the central highlands, the west coast, and the southwest. • Madagascar is often called the "Great Red Island" because of its red soils, which are generally poor for agriculture. • Madagascar has some of the highest biodiversity on the planet. Of roughly 200,000 known species found on Madagascar, about 150,000 are endemic -- meaning they exist nowhere else. Unique to the island are more than 50 types of lemurs, 99% of its frog species, and 36 genera of birds. Madagascar houses 100% of the world's lemurs, half of its chameleon species, and 6% of its frogs (though none of its toads). Madagascar is home to as many as 12,000 plant species -- 70-80% of which are endemic -- making it one of the most diverse floras on the planet. • Madagascar is also home to a totally unique ecosystem -- one that is found nowhere else on Earth. Found in the dry southwestern part of the island, the spiny forest is notable because virtually every species of plant is covered with sharp spines. While these plants look a bit like cactus, they are not related. About 95% of the species found in the Spiny Desert are endemic

3. Madagascar Environment • While Madagascar is known for its strange animals and beautiful forests, much of the country has suffered severe environmental damage. Many of the island's rainforests have been cut down while valuable topsoil important for growing crops disappears due to erosion. Because Madagascar is among the world's poorest countries, people's day-to-day survival is dependent upon natural resource use. Most Malagasy never have an option to become a doctor, computer programmer, factory worker, or secretary; they must live off the land that surrounds them, making use of whatever resources they can find. Their poverty costs the country and the world through the loss of the island's endemic biodiversity. Madagascar's major environmental problems include: • Deforestation and habitat destruction • Agricultural fires • Erosion and soil degradation • Overexploitation of living resources including hunting and over-collection of species from the wild • Introduction of alien species

4. Madagascar Images

5. Save Madagascar Instructions Save Madagascar Instructions • A ten minute video will be shown on Madagascar to introduce you to this area. • After the video, I will divide you into groups (three to four students) to research various animal and plant life that are found on this island and also unique to Madagascar. • There will be websites provided and you are able to find your own research material on the Internet. • Your group will research the animal habitats and life expectancies of the species. • Your group will need to research if there is anything being done to ensure the species’ survival at this time. • If there is nothing being done, it is your job to create a plan to save the species. Also, if there is a plan in place, how would you improve upon the current plan. • Your group will present your research to the class in a PowerPoint presentation. • Your presentation will include information about your animal and plant species, your plan to save the species or improvement recommendations and your overall research. • You can use images in your presentation.

6. Madagascar Wildlife Websites • http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/madagascar/madagascar.html • http://www.wildmadagascar.org/wildlife/animals.html • http://www.animalinfo.org/country/madagasc.htm • http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/caught/conservation/madagascar • http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/the-miracle-in-madagascar-ndash-a-blueprint-for-saving-species-807799.html • http://www.lemurs.us/madagascar.html • http://www.pbs.org/edens/madagascar/creature3.htm • http://home.planet.nl/~mkrame http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherewework/madagascar/ r/mada_en.htm • http://www.actionbioscience.org/evolution/roberson.html

7. Madagascar Plants and Environment Websites • http://www.wildmadagascar.org/flora/ • http://www.mapsofworld.com/madagascar/plants/ • http://rainforests.mongabay.com/20madagascar.htm • http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/science/jan-june08/madagascar_04-11.html • http://www.photius.com/countries/madagascar/geography/madagascar_geography_physical_environment.html • http://www.wildmadagascar.org/conservation/threats.html • http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Madagascar-ENVIRONMENT.html • http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/355562/Madagascar/2 • http://www.hackingfamily.com/Flora_&_Fauna/Madagascar/MadFlora.htm 3456/Land • http://www.photius.com/countries/madagascar/geography/madagascar_geography_flora_and_fauna.html

8. Save Madagascar Grading Rubric

9. Grading Scale • A 40 points • B 38-36 points • C 35-34 points • D 33-20 points • *F 20-0 points • *Students will be given an opportunity to rework their presentation for half credit to be given to their original grade.