On the 20th, we went to Tampolo forest, host to some of the rare remaining littoral forest. Due to deforestation, there is only about 10% of this type of forest left, but it is host to approximately 14% of Madagascar’s endemic species of flora. We learned about many of these species, including how illegal logging is affecting the populations of ebony. After this, we practiced surveying the forest. We marked off a large, medium, and small area and looked at trees with a diameter over 10 cm, a diameter between 5 and 10 cm, and sapling species, respectively. Usually, a surveyor would do twice the amount we did. Although we only did half of a regular survey, it was a lot of work! Afterwards, we analyzed the data we collected. Many of the large trees we saw were the same species, but the saplings were for the most part a different one. This indicates that there is new growth.
Melissa & Julia: Forestry in Tampolo
