Kew Science
Madagascar yam conservation for livelihoods
Conserving Madagascar’s edible wild yams through cultivation to enhance livelihoods and food security.
Read moreUK and Islands - Madagascar
From our base in Madagascar, we deliver science-based plant conservation to enhance the quality of life on the island.
Team lead: Stuart Cable
The Kew Madagascar Conservation Centre (KMCC) is a team of, predominantly Malagasy, botanists with exceptional field skills and knowledge of the island's flora. We deliver the Kew Science Strategy through a multi-disciplinary programme of research combining cutting-edge science, innovative technologies and local expertise.
Despite the gloom about biodiversity loss and climate change, this is an exciting time for research as Madagascar represents the perfect workbench for studying the evolution of species, floras and vegetation, due to its 85+ million years of isolation from other landmasses and resulting high levels of endemism.
The study of plants and fungi is being transformed thanks to rapidly developing technologies in genetics, bioinformatics and machine learning. For plants, although we are continuing to describe new species as they are discovered, the taxonomic backbone is sufficiently complete that the greatest gains in our knowledge will come from the massive increase in data generated by low cost DNA sequencing.
Our focus is to support phylogenetics research, such as the Plant and Fungal Trees of Life (PAFTOL) project, understanding the evolution and diversity of the flora, resolving the most diverse genera and developing new methods for rapid identification and inventories. For fungi, we are building a comprehensive fungarium collection with sufficient material for sequencing, both to support PAFTOL and for PhD students undertaking phylogenetics of small groups.
Whilst Kew develops the science, KMCC implements that science in real-world situations. Our broad thematic programme covers a range of research interests from management of protected areas and modelling extinction risk of species to ex-situ conservation.
Team members
Research leader
Stuart Cable
KMCC manager
Dr Hélène Ralimanana
KMCC accountant
Bodo Mbolatahiana
KMCC senior spatial analyst
Hery Andriambolantsoa
KMCC ecosystem team leader
Solofo Rakotoarisoa
KMCC protected areas team leader
Tiana Randriamboavonjy
KMCC species team leader
David Rabehevitra
KMCC biodiversity team leader
Dr Franck Rakotonasolo
KMCC livelihoods team leader
Dr Mamy Tiana Rajaonah
KMCC senior botanists
Linah Rabarivola
Fabien Rahaingoson
Landy Rajaovelona
Vonona Randrianasolo
KMCC botanists
Ando Andriamanohera
Andry Rakotoarisoa
Velosoa Razafiniary
Henintsoa Razanajatovo
KMCC senior technician
Roger Rajaonarison
KMCC drivers
Joel Rakotonirina
Tatamo Ranaivomanana
KMCC horticulturalist
Eric Rakotoniaina
Ambanja team leader
Feno Rakotoarison
Ambanja technicians
Geodain Meva
Théophile Rajaonilaza
Miraille Razafindravelo
Bongolava botanist
Haja Razafimandimby
Bongolava technician
Merveille Bernard
Morondava senior botanist
Fetra Randriatsara
Morondava technician
Fidelis Randrianasolo
Itremo senior botanist
Sedera Ramaromanana
Itremo community technicians
Jean Aime Tanjoniaina
Jose Rafanomezantsoa
PhD students
Andriamalala Rakotonasolo
Anna Ralaiveloarisoa
Cédrique Solofondranohatra
Projects
- Millennium Seed Bank Project Madagascar
- Itremo Massif Protected Area
- Vohibola Littoral Forest
- Madagascar Fungal Diversity
- Madagascar Plant Diversity
- CEPF Bongolava
- CEPF Montage des Français
- CEPF Itremo-Ambatofinandrahana
- CEPF IUCN Red List