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The Main Expedition Madagascar is one of the most exotic islands in the Indian Ocean. Having been in isolation for 165 million years, the island has developed some impressive flora and fauna, creating a biodiversity resource of global significance with over 80% of animal species unique to this country. The ocean around Madagascar is becoming increasingly threatened by the activities of the growing population. Reef fish are taken for consumption and coral and ornamental shells are taken for sale to tourists. Cyclones and other extreme weather damages the reefs, but the impact by humans is far though the extent of it is unknown. Deposition of sediment from soil erosion caused by deforestation is filling up the sea, expanding deltas and covering reefs. Species such as the pearl oyster and other shells are becoming increasingly rare. Frontier's role in Madagascar is to carry out baseline marine surveys to determine how the waters can be protected, as well as providing training for Malagasy marine resource officers and students. Dives are carried out in order to find and map areas of coral, identify reef and commercial fish, as well as to record sitings of whales, dolphins, turtles and dugongs. Volunteers also join local fishermen on their boats to ascertain how reliant they are on the reefs and fish for their survival. The Madagascar coral reefs project works in partnership with the Institut Halieutique et des Science Marines. The data collected on the project is used by the Malagasy authorities and will contribute to the National Programme to catalogue Madagascar's coastal ecosystems. All techniques and methods used have been developed over the last ten years in previous expeditions in other countries and these projects so far have resulted in major conservation initiatives in the Western Indian Ocean region. The project is based next to Anakao village, Near Toliara in southwest Madagascar.
A New Expedition The expedition I am going on to Madagascar is a new, but very similar one to what has been going on for two years near Anakao. Frontier are sending out a team of 12 research assistants and some field staff, to a new location which will be researched and tried out as a location for a second Madagascar Marine project. The team will be setting up a new, but basic, camp on an un-spoilt, beach and will be the first people to SCUBA dive in the area and find out what is there. The exact location has not been decided yet, but will be just south of the base camp at Anakao.
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