Conservation Science and Species Programme
The Western Indian Ocean region hosts two of the WWF Global Programme Framework flagship species (marine turtles and marine cetaceans) and five of the globally footprint-impacted species (Corals, Pelagic sharks, Reef sharks , Swordfish and other billfish, Tunas, Humphead wrass), all of which are marine species.
Madagascar (including WIOMER) was identified in the Global Programme Framework as a priority place because of its exceptionnally high level of endemism and diversity. Our selection of priority conservation land/seascapes is already heavily based on their importance as threatened and/or endemic species habitat or potential refugia or dispersion area. As part of the conservation planning for these land/seascapes we have already started identifiying target species and will continue with developing specific strategies and plans to preserve these species. These species also include Global Programme Framework priorities such as corals and reef sharks.
However, we have identified three groups of species (marine turtles, Malagasy endemic terrestrial tortoises and tuna) that need particular attention and for which an approach based on individual land/seascapes management will not be sufficient because:
For these species, we will develop specific action plans linking land/seascape conservation to higher policy and trade issues and cooperation accross countries as needed (especially for marine turtles and tuna).
Madagascar (including WIOMER) was identified in the Global Programme Framework as a priority place because of its exceptionnally high level of endemism and diversity. Our selection of priority conservation land/seascapes is already heavily based on their importance as threatened and/or endemic species habitat or potential refugia or dispersion area. As part of the conservation planning for these land/seascapes we have already started identifiying target species and will continue with developing specific strategies and plans to preserve these species. These species also include Global Programme Framework priorities such as corals and reef sharks.
However, we have identified three groups of species (marine turtles, Malagasy endemic terrestrial tortoises and tuna) that need particular attention and for which an approach based on individual land/seascapes management will not be sufficient because:
- The species are migratory (marine turtles, tuna) and therefore their conservation cannot be achieved by any single seascape. Moreover, these are GPF global priorities and we will therefore directly contribute to the GPF species goals.
- The species are on the brink of extinction, yet the threats affecting them are driven by local to international factors that reach beyond land/seascape management levels (Malagasy endemic terrestrial tortoises).
For these species, we will develop specific action plans linking land/seascape conservation to higher policy and trade issues and cooperation accross countries as needed (especially for marine turtles and tuna).