Kew expedition 09 - Get live updates via twitter from the GIS team in Madagascar

Kew's GIS (Geographical Information Systems) team are in Madagascar to record and map plant life on the island and they're sending live updates from the field via twitter. Madagascar is home to an estimated 10,000–12,000 plant species, over 90% of which are found nowhere else on earth!

View on map: Madagascar,

16 Nov 2009

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Kew's GIS team working with partners in the field

Over the last 50 years human activities have had a dramatic impact on the flora of Madagascar. Today, Kew's GIS team set off on their expedition to the island. Their mission is to record information about the plant life they find and support future plant conservation work to protect plant life and habitats at risk.

The team are sending live updates from the field via their mobile phones to twitter, providing unique access to life in the field and highlighting the importance of Kew's plant conservation work on the ground.

Madagascar is home to an estimated 10,000–12,000 plant species, over 90% of which are found nowhere else on earth! It is one of the top ten global biodiveristy hotpots. The focus of this expedition is to find out more about areas where information about plant life is limited, such as high altitude forests (above 1,800 metres) and mountain bush vegetation.

Sadly, much of this valuable flora is under severe threat from vegetation clearance to make way for agriculture, charcoal production and timber extraction. There is also a threat from the illegal collection of orchids, palms and succulents.