It is always amazing to come across a synergy that brings positive change for everyone. Whilst travelling through southern Madagascar I found one such positive relationship - that between a sustainable livelihood project (silk weaving), forest restoration and lemur conservation. The endemic Madagascan silk worm, unlike the Asian, only thrives in the wild feeding on native tapir trees. Collecting the cocoons and weaving them into funeral shrouds has been part of Bara culture for millennia. Supporting local weavers to produce scarves for sale encourages communities to protect the tapir forest, the home for many lemur species and brings them additional sources of income. Win, win!

Posted by Friends of CRS at 2023-04-09 14:07:43 UTC