TY - JOUR
T1 - An overdue catalyst
T2 - Limitations imposed by COVID-19 improved capacity building in community-led environmental education in Madagascar
AU - West, Kathy
AU - Tecot, Stacey
AU - Walker-Bolton, Amber D.
AU - Borgerson, Cortni
AU - Wright, Patricia C.
AU - Razafindravony, Lovasoa
AU - Andriamiadanarivo, Andry
AU - Andrianoely, Dina
AU - Celestain, Jean
AU - Elison, Pascal
AU - Jordan, Jessie
AU - Liu, Arielle
AU - Milliasse, Ramanorintsoa F.
AU - Rafidimanandray, Rhodin
AU - Ranaivoson, Tolotra
AU - Randimbiarimanana, Clara
AU - Razafindrapaoly, Be Noel
AU - Soule, Madison
AU - Aliperti, Jaclyn R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
PY - 2023/5
Y1 - 2023/5
N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus brought many primatology research programs and conservation efforts to a halt. After Madagascar closed its borders during March 2020, many on-site international project leaders and researchers returned to their home countries when their programs were delayed or canceled. Madagascar remained closed to travelers until November 2021, when it reopened to international flights. The 20-month absence of international researchers allowed many local Malagasy program staff, wildlife professionals, and community leaders to step into new leadership roles and responsibilities. Many programs that already had strong Malagasy leadership and meaningful collaborations with local communities flourished, while others either swiftly strengthened these attributes or faced challenges from pandemic-related travel restrictions. Here, we describe how the coronavirus pandemic events of 2020–2021 initiated long-overdue shifts in outdated models of internationally led primate research and education projects in communities living alongside primates at risk of extinction. We discuss the benefits and challenges of pandemic-induced changes within five primatological outreach projects, as well as how we can use these experiences to improve community-led environmental education and conservation awareness in the future.
AB - The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus brought many primatology research programs and conservation efforts to a halt. After Madagascar closed its borders during March 2020, many on-site international project leaders and researchers returned to their home countries when their programs were delayed or canceled. Madagascar remained closed to travelers until November 2021, when it reopened to international flights. The 20-month absence of international researchers allowed many local Malagasy program staff, wildlife professionals, and community leaders to step into new leadership roles and responsibilities. Many programs that already had strong Malagasy leadership and meaningful collaborations with local communities flourished, while others either swiftly strengthened these attributes or faced challenges from pandemic-related travel restrictions. Here, we describe how the coronavirus pandemic events of 2020–2021 initiated long-overdue shifts in outdated models of internationally led primate research and education projects in communities living alongside primates at risk of extinction. We discuss the benefits and challenges of pandemic-induced changes within five primatological outreach projects, as well as how we can use these experiences to improve community-led environmental education and conservation awareness in the future.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Madagascar
KW - community-based conservation
KW - education
KW - local knowledge
KW - primates
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85153584882&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ajp.23497
DO - 10.1002/ajp.23497
M3 - Comment/debate
C2 - 37095739
AN - SCOPUS:85153584882
SN - 0275-2565
VL - 85
JO - American Journal of Primatology
JF - American Journal of Primatology
IS - 5
M1 - e23497
ER -