Caterina Spiezio
Parco Natura Viva, Italy
Title: The wonder of indri song as a driver of forest conservation
Biography
Biography: Caterina Spiezio
Abstract
Indri (Indri indri) represents a peculiar case among primates because of its impressive howling cries, known as “the song of the indri”. This modulated signal is composed by different vocal notes uttered in a coordinated manner by group members. Loud singing in indris shows evident sex- and individual-specific features and may serve conveying different messages. Indris have been classified as critically endangered by the IUCN (Red List of Threatened Species), mainly because they suffer extremely high pressure, as habitat loss. Due to the increasing anthropic activities that are directly impacting on rainforests, understanding human interaction with the species and their habitat is urgent. For this purpose, Parco Natura Viva, in cooperation with the University of Torino, promoted effective conservation strategies in the Maromizaha forest (Madagascar), focused on the management and preservation of rainforest ecosystems and specific related taxa. Knowledge of how indris communicate generates crucial information, from social organization to demography, from habitat use to genetic fitness. Our research is impacting positively on conservation: the effective monitoring of indri groups and territories is leading to a deeper understanding of how to manage wildlife. Understanding that conservation must have the support of local people in order to be effective, we are working together for developing positive attitudes towards wildlife among the local communities inhabiting 9 villages around the forest, both establishing small infrastructures (e.g. Maromizaha Multipurpose Centre), promoting reforestation (more than 9000 endemic bamboo and forest trees restored), implementing capacity-building activities and developing education at primary and higher level (e.g. 240 schoolchildren equipped with books and stationery). A new Forest Patrol Service has also been established, in collaboration with local traditional authorities and police. As a result of our efforts, on April 28th, 2015 Maromizaha was officially recognized as a New Protected Area (NAP) by the Ministry of Environment, Ecology, Sea and Forests.