Saving Madagascar

Jennifer Naymick

A Week in Africa

Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island after Greenland, New Guinea, and Borneo. Madagascar is located in the western Indian Ocean. If we flew from San Francisco to Antanananarvio, the capital of Madagascar it would be 11,00 miles and 23 hours of flight time.

Madagascar can be divided into five geographical regions: the east coast, the Tsaratanana Massif in the north, the central highlands, the west coast, and the southwest.

Madagascar is often called the "Great Red Island" because of its red soils, which are generally poor for agriculture.

Madagascar has some of the highest biodiversity on the planet. Of roughly 200,000 known species found on Madagascar, about 150,000 are endemic -- meaning they exist nowhere else. Unique to the island are more than 50 types of lemurs, 99% of its frog species, and 36 genera of birds. Madagascar houses 100% of the world's lemurs, half of its chameleon species, and 6% of its frogs (though none of its toads).

Madagascar is home to as many as 12,000 plant species -- 70-80% of which are endemic -- making it one of the most diverse floras on the planet.

Madagascar is also home to a totally unique ecosystem -- one that is found nowhere else on Earth. Found in the dry southwestern part of the island, the spiny forest is notable because virtually every species of plant is covered with sharp spines. While these plants look a bit like cactus, they are not related. About 95% of the species found in the Spiny Desert are endemic

Madagascar Facts

While Madagascar is known for its strange animals and beautiful forests, much of the country has suffered severe environmental damage. Many of the island's rainforests have been cut down while valuable topsoil important for growing crops disappears due to erosion. Because Madagascar is among the world's poorest countries, people's day-to-day survival is dependent upon natural resource use. Most Malagasy never have an option to become a doctor, computer programmer, factory worker, or secretary; they must live off the land that surrounds them, making use of whatever resources they can find. Their poverty costs the country and the world through the loss of the island's endemic biodiversity.

Madagascar's major environmental problems include: Deforestation and habitat destruction Agricultural fires Erosion and soil degradation Overexploitation of living resources including hunting and over-collection of

species from the wild Introduction of alien species

Madagascar Environment

Madagascar Images

Save Madagascar Instructions A ten minute video will be shown on Madagascar to introduce you to this

area. After the video, I will divide you into groups (three to four students) to

research various animal and plant life that are found on this island and also unique to Madagascar.

There will be websites provided and you are able to find your own research material on the Internet.

Your group will research the animal habitats and life expectancies of the species.

Your group will need to research if there is anything being done to ensure the species’ survival at this time.

If there is nothing being done, it is your job to create a plan to save the species. Also, if there is a plan in place, how would you improve upon the current plan.

Your group will present your research to the class in a PowerPoint presentation.

Your presentation will include information about your animal and plant species, your plan to save the species or improvement recommendations and your overall research.

You can use images in your presentation.

Save Madagascar Instructions

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/madagascar/madagascar.html

http://www.wildmadagascar.org/wildlife/animals.html http://www.animalinfo.org/country/madagasc.htm http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/caught/conservation/madagascar http://

www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/the-miracle-in-madagascar-ndash-a-blueprint-for-saving-species-807799.html

http://www.lemurs.us/madagascar.html http://www.pbs.org/edens/madagascar/creature3.htm http://home.planet.nl/~mkrame http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherew

ework/madagascar/ r/mada_en.htm http://www.actionbioscience.org/evolution/roberson.html

Madagascar Wildlife Websites

http://www.wildmadagascar.org/flora/ http://www.mapsofworld.com/madagascar/plants / http://rainforests.mongabay.com/20madagascar.htm http://

www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/science/jan-june08/madagascar_04-11.html

http://www.photius.com/countries/madagascar/geography/madagascar_geography_physical_environment.html

http://www.wildmadagascar.org/conservation/threats.html http://

www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Madagascar-ENVIRONMENT.html http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/355562/Madagascar/2 http

://www.hackingfamily.com/Flora_&_Fauna/Madagascar/MadFlora.htm 3456/Land

http://www.photius.com/countries/madagascar/geography/madagascar_geography_flora_and_fauna.html

Madagascar Plants and Environment Websites

Area Madagascar is Saved! Ten Points

Madagascar needs help!Eight Points

Madagascar is in Serious Danger!Five Points

Participation The student equally contributed an equal amount to the group in research and presenting PowerPoint.

The student did not fully contribute to the group in research and presenting PowerPoint presentation.

The student did not participate in the research or PowerPoint presentation.

Design  Very creative PowerPoint. Did not include any unnecessary graphics. Research material and images had a nice balance and flow.

The PowerPoint had a few unnecessary graphics/images and or a bit too much research material. The flow and balance could use improvement.

The design include either too many images/graphics and or research material. It was not creative.

Grammar Presentation contains no spelling or punctuation errors. All sentences are complete.

Presentation has some incomplete sentences. There are some punctuation and spelling errors.

The presentation has many incomplete sentences. There are many punctuation and spelling errors.

Content The topic is covered thoroughly. There is enough research to provide a great understanding to topic. The presentation does not include any unnecessary material.

There is a need of more research material in presentation. The presentation has a few unnecessary items.

There is not enough material in presentation about the subject. The presentation has a lot of irrelevant material that does not relate to the topic.

Save Madagascar Grading Rubric

A 40 pointsB 38-36 pointsC 35-34 pointsD 33-20 points*F 20-0 points*Students will be given an opportunity to

rework their presentation for half credit to be given to their original grade.

Grading Scale