Ankarafa Field Station

Help us build a field station to save Madagascar’s Critically Endangered wildlife, including the Blue-eyed black lemur and its forest habitat.

Madagascar is one of the world’s most important hotspots for biodiversity, yet is also one of the world’s poorest countries with 92% of people living below the poverty line. Due to this, locals are forced to use unsustainable livelihood practices such as slash and burn of the forest and illegal logging which have led to extraordinarily high rates of habitat loss. 90% of Madagascar’s original natural vegetation is estimated to have been destroyed.

Madagascar is home to a huge number of rare and endemic animals, including the Blue-eyed black lemur. Habitat loss and the additional threat of hunting could result in losing these unique species’ all together.

Bristol Zoological Society, landscape architect Grant Associates, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and BuroHappold Engineering are working together on a project to save Madagascar’s Critically Endangered wildlife by building a new research centre to benefit both wildlife and people.

Architects from Grant Associates, FCBStudios and BuroHappold Engineering will be providing innovative architectural and building design expertise for the remote location in Ankarafa Forest, designing a series of simple buildings that will form the research camp for Bristol Zoological Society in northern Madagascar.

We need your help!

Your donations can help us create more than just a building. Being able to create a world-class research station will provide a key site of science to protect wildlife with a strong focus on conservation, innovation and education. The Ankarafa field station will also provide work for local people as guides, managers and field researchers – connecting people and nature.

Build cost:

£75,431

Field station kit-out cost:

£36,000