Celebrating Our 2023 Accomplishments & Big Plans for 2024
As we say goodbye to 2023 and ring in 2024, we are bursting with pride at our team’s many accomplishments over the past year – which could not have been achieved without the support of our generous donors, supporters, and partners.
Guided by our mission to solve critical conservation problems by cultivating new approaches with innovative techniques and applications through the support of community-led initiatives, in a year full of amazing accomplishments below are what we consider to be our top achievements from this past year:
o Reforestation Project: To help restore the forest that lemurs and the Malagasy people call home, TDARFAC mentored and supported graduate students at the University of Antanavarivo in their reforestation efforts (including celebrating World Lemur Day!). This project has been part of a larger effort to decolonialize primatology and empower the next generation of Malagasy primatologists to lead reforestation efforts in their homeland.
o “Launch” Trip to Madagascar: In May through June 2023, Dr. Ross visited different research sites with Dr. Mitch Irwin and Dr. Erik Patel in Madagascar to help introduce the Foundation in the region, which was done in part via a launch party. Dr. Ross counted it as a “once in a lifetime” experience to see the diademed sifakas with Dr. Irwin and silky sifakas with Dr. Patel, in addition to working with them both on important conservation projects.
We Have Big Goals for 2024! Although we’re proud of the work our team has accomplished in 2023, we’re also excited about what’s in store for 2024 as we continue our mission of bridging the gap between breakthroughs in conservation science and applied conservation efforts on the ground!
Here’s a sneak peak at what we have planned for the coming year:
o Continuing and Expanding the Reforestation Project: TDARFAC is working on an ambitious expansion of our current reforestation project in Madagascar. We are looking forward to sharing more details about this exciting project later this year!
o Disbursing the first grants and awards in early 2024, as well as monitoring the progress of the grant projects throughout the year.
o Don’t forget: Grant and Award applications are still open! Make sure to send in your application or nomination by January 31:
o Expanding and Developing the Malagasy Graduate Student Mentoring Program: TDARFAC has provided financial assistance, as well as logistical, scientific and mentoring support to several Malagasy master’s students over the past few years. The team is looking forward to expanding these programs to further support the next generation of Malagasy scientists.
o Creating a New Child Environmental Education Program: To reach youth ages 10-17 in Madagascar, TDARFAC will collaborate with Association Mitsinjo to develop a new youth group program to visit the reforestation project and help them discover how to get involved in these efforts.
