Grasses and savannas of Madagascar
Using knowledge of endemic grasses to understand the history of open canopy areas.
Grasses and savannas of MadagascarThis project is working to establish the identity of Digitaria species in Madagascar, build local capacity to identify the species, and enable Malagasy highland smallholders to improve rangeland and weed management practices.
Different species within the genus Digitaria can be nutritious forages species or noxious weeds. Managing these species can improve the productivity and resilience of smallholder pastoral and arable farming systems, reducing poverty, but this depends on the ability to differentiate between species, which is currently hindered by an incomplete taxonomy and lack of targeted resources.
Our long-term relationships with the rural communities in Ibity, Itremo and Ambohidray areas will allow us to connect our taxonomic and nomenclatural work to the reality of Malagasy agrisystems.
George Burton
Thomas Haevermans
Lorna MacKinnon
Mijoro Rakotoarinivo
Nantenaina Rakotomalala
Fenitra Randrianarimanana
Jean Augustin Randriamampianina
Sami Touafchia
Maria S. Vorontsova
Using knowledge of endemic grasses to understand the history of open canopy areas.
Grasses and savannas of Madagascar