Study

Lemur bridges provide crossing structures over roads within a forested mining concession near Moramanga, Toamasina Province, Madagascar

  • Published source details Mass V., Rakotomanga B., Rakotondratsimba G., Razafindramisa S., Andrianaivomahefa P., Dickinson S., Berner P.O. & Cooke A. (2011) Lemur bridges provide crossing structures over roads within a forested mining concession near Moramanga, Toamasina Province, Madagascar. Conservation Evidence, 8, 11-18.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Install rope or pole (canopy) bridges

Action Link
Primate Conservation
  1. Install rope or pole (canopy) bridges

    A before-and-after trial in 2009-2010 at the Ambatovy mine in humid forest in Toamasina, Madagascar found that all six lemur species (Lemuroidea) monitored used canopy bridges to cross roads and pipelines around the mining area. Observed road crossings on the ground decreased from 69 during two weeks before bridge construction to six crossings during the 1.5 years after construction. Furthermore, bridges were used 63 times during the first 1.5 years. Lemurs preferred to use the mine area bridge, which the authors assumed was due to the shorter distance needed to be crossed without the shelter of the canopy. Three bridges (8–15 m in length) in the mine area and four (22-25 m in length) along the pipelines were constructed from January to February 2009. Lemur (eastern woolly lemur Avahi laniger, greater dwarf lemur Cheirogaleus major, grey bamboo lemur Hapalemur griseus, diademed sifaka Propithecus diadema, brown lemur Eulemur fulvus, red-bellied lemur Eulemur rubriventer) use of bridges was monitored 10 hours/day during four to six days/week from March 2009 until August 2010. Prior to bridge construction, mine area roads and pipelines were monitored for 14 days to detect potential crossing points.

    (Summarised by: JJ)

Output references
What Works 2021 cover

What Works in Conservation

What Works in Conservation provides expert assessments of the effectiveness of actions, based on summarised evidence, in synopses. Subjects covered so far include amphibians, birds, mammals, forests, peatland and control of freshwater invasive species. More are in progress.

More about What Works in Conservation

Download free PDF or purchase
The Conservation Evidence Journal

The Conservation Evidence Journal

An online, free to publish in, open-access journal publishing results from research and projects that test the effectiveness of conservation actions.

Read the latest volume: Volume 21

Go to the CE Journal

Discover more on our blog

Our blog contains the latest news and updates from the Conservation Evidence team, the Conservation Evidence Journal, and our global partners in evidence-based conservation.


Who uses Conservation Evidence?

Meet some of the evidence champions

Endangered Landscape ProgrammeRed List Champion - Arc Kent Wildlife Trust The Rufford Foundation Save the Frogs - Ghana Mauritian Wildlife Supporting Conservation Leaders
Sustainability Dashboard National Biodiversity Network Frog Life The international journey of Conservation - Oryx Cool Farm Alliance UNEP AWFA Bat Conservation InternationalPeople trust for endangered species Vincet Wildlife Trust