SEED Madagascar

Project Palms aims to further understand and protect the conservation status of six IUCN Red List palm species in the Sainte Luce littoral forest: Beccariophoenix madagascariensis (VU), Chrysalidocarpus prestonianus (VU), Chrysalidocarpus psammophilus (EN), Chrysalidocarpus saintelucei (EN), Dypsis brevicaulis (CR), and Dypsis scottiana (VU).

A previous study by SEED identified rapidly declining populations of B. madagascariensis and C. saintelucei in Sainte Luce between 2012 and 2020 (Hyde Roberts et al., 2020). While limited information exists on the current demography and distribution of the other four target species, it is believed that their local populations are also in decline. In Sainte Luce, there are several community uses of the target palm species. Primarily palms are used for lobster pot production, as lobster fishing is the primary method of income generation for many households in Sainte Luce. Palms are also frequently used for house construction. Despite their importance for biodiversity and local livelihoods, the palm species in Sainte Luce remain relatively understudied and poorly understood.

Given the intensifying pressure from growing human populations, compounded by projected impacts of climate change on species extinction, there is now an urgent need for prioritised action for Madagascar palms

Rakotoarinivo et al., 2014, p. 16

Project Palms began in August 2021 to address significant knowledge gaps for the six target species of palm, while aiming to bolster and protect their populations in protected fragments of the Sainte Luce littoral forest.

SEED has completed a palms population census, microhabitat assessments, phenology and pollinator surveys, and, within SEED’s nursery, germination monitoring, survival and growth trials, and soil composition trials. These data were used to inform the in-situ planting of 1,075 palms into protected forest fragments in 2023 and 2024. These data were also used to develop a holistic Palms Conservation Action Plan for the Sainte Luce littoral forest.

SEED is working closely with local communities to implement Project Palms. Information on knowledge and usage of the six target species, as well as community preferences for palm protection, has been gathered through a community consultation survey, focus groups, and interviews with key informants and local experts. Community involvement in the project will continue through further in-situ planting and the dissemination of project learning. Additionally, SEED continues to strengthen its relationship with local forest management bodies CoBA (Communautés de Base; forest management association), FIMPIA (Forestry Police Association), and Polisin’ala (local forest patrol) – a highlight being the collaboration between SEED, all three forest management bodies, and other key stakeholders during the transplanting of over 1,000 endangered palm seedlings into protected forest fragments in 2024.

Progress (August 2021 - December 2024)

• 153,616 individual palms from Project Palms six target species encountered across five fragments of the Sainte Luce littoral forest during the palms population census.
• 123 microhabitat assessments conducted on individual adult palms, with a minimum of 20 assessed per species.
• 3,784 palms germinated in the SEED nursery by December 2024. 
• 97% survival rate, one year after planting, of 66 C. saintelucei transplanted into four sites across protected forest fragment S9 in 2023 as a trial in-situ planting. 
• 92% survival rate, six-months after planting, of 1,009 palms from six species transplanted into 16 sites across forest fragments S8, S9, and S17 in 2024 in-situ planting.
• 1 dissemination event of the Palms Conservation Action Plan, with a further 3 planned in 2025. 
• 12 focus groups held, totalling 178 participants, to gauge community motivation and suggestions for protecting palms.
• 25 respondents to a community consultation survey and five key informant interviewees identified community uses and knowledge of the six target species.
• Seasonality calendar outlining fruiting and flowering periods for all six species produced from phenology surveys and interviews with local experts. 
• Composition and order of pollinators described for the first time for C. psammophilus, D. brevicaulis, and D. scottiana. 
• Multiple technical reports completed: Initial Stakeholder Consultation, Microhabitat Assessment, Nursery Growth, Phenology and Pollinators, Population Census, Transplantation Report, and Conservation Action Plan.

Next Steps 

• Planting at least 725 palm seedlings from the six species in protected forest fragments of the Sainte Luce littoral forest to reach the target of 1,800 planted overall.
• Dissemination of project learnings and focus group findings to the community through awareness-raising and feedback sessions.
• Continuing to monitor the palms planted in protected fragments annually to increase knowledge on post-transplantation survival and growth rates. 
• Submission of project data and results to a journal, to bolster international understanding of these six palm species.

Donors

Project Palms is thankful for the generosity of Fondation Franklinia for contributing partial funding to the project - https://fondationfranklinia.org