Madagascar Biodiversity Center
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| Founded: | 2002 |
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| Charter: | Promote the conservation of Madagascar's biodiversity; educate students of Madagascar in the sciences of systematics, ecology, conservation and entomology; and house the National Arthropod Collection |
| Location: | The center is located within the Tsimbazaza National Zoological Park in Madagascar's capital city, Antananarivo. |
| Size: | approximately 500 square meters of interior surface |
| Status: | Fully operational in new facilities as of 2006 |
| Executive Director: | Dr. Brian Fisher |
| Fundraising Coordinator: | Jonathan Betts-LaCroix |
Introduction
Madagascar's first and only biodiversity research center, the Bibikely Biodiversity Center is a joint project of the Bibikely Biodiversity Institute, and the California Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with the Malagasy government.
The Bibikely Biodiversity Institute is an NGO founded and presently directed by Dr. Brian Fisher, preeminent field biologist, and the curator and chairman of the entomology department of the California Academy of Sciences.
The Center began operations in rented facilities in 1996 and moved into its permanent facility in late 2004, which is leased at no cost from the Malagasy government until 2055.
Located within the Tsimbazaza National Zoological Day-night park in Madagascar's capital city, Antananarivo, the new facility is adjacent to the Malagasy Academy of Sciences, the Academy Library, and the Academy Herbarium.
Goals
Conservation
The center was conceived in 2001 as a means to provide a safe and permanent home for the Bibikely Biodiversity Institute to continue its work of cataloging and understanding the rich biological endowment that is Madagascar's biodiversity.
Center’s research will help to identify and protect more than three times the currently protected land in Madagascar.
Understanding
The Center will enable the Bibikely Biodiversity Institute to expand its work in understanding the ecosystems of Madagascar, particularly as they relate to arthropods.
Education
The Center will provide the facilities required to train a larger number of students, particularly those from Madagascar itself, in the science and practice of systematics, ecology, conservation and entomology.
Collection
The Center will also provide space to house the Malagasy government's National Arthropod Collection, a repository of thousands of specimens of arthropods collected on Madagascar. The collection makes possible a large part of the needed research on arthropods of Madagascar.
Funding
The Center is in grave need of further funding in order to complete its construction and to begin outfitting it with the equipment needed for its research and education missions.
Individuals and organizations interested in contributing should contact the fundraising coordinator.