BotanyKatherine Culbertson

Investigating Rainforest Resilience and Barriers to Regeneration in Eastern Madagascar

To better target limited resources for ecosystem restoration, it is essential to understand the capacity of ecosystems to recover after disturbance; however, scientific knowledge lags far behind restoration interest and commitment, especially in the well-known biodiversity hotspot of eastern Madagascar. To address this critical knowledge gap, our team is integrating observational and experimental approaches to (1) describe and map regenerating forests across Marojejy National Park, thus, providing a better understanding of vegetation types and allowing for better targeting of restoration actions; and (2) assess barriers to natural regeneration to guide restoration interventions in areas that lack natural resilience. Our international team of researchers, regional managers, and local community members is also working to enhance local capacity through training students and guides and ensuring research findings are accessible to local conservationists and farmers. Through this initiative, we will inform restoration management across Madagascar’s hyperdiverse rainforests which will advance conservation while simultaneously providing benefits through ecotourism, ecosystem services and sustainable management of forest resources.