DIFFICULT DECISIONS

Designing a Lemur Reserve

Now that you've looked at populations of the brown lemur, it's time to think like a conservationist. Look at the map below. You'll be able to designate up to XX square miles (XX square kilometers) as reserves expressly designed to maintain the genetic diversity of the Brown Lemur.

Brown lemurs live in forested areas, which currently cover only about 11% of Madagascar's total land area. Click on the map to see how much of Madagascar's forest has disappeared. In the last 50 years, people have reduced the remaining forest in Madagascar by 50%!

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE - Evolution is a continual process that continues to happen, so conservationists have to think not only of the current diversity of species, but how those populations will fare into the future. Just as the brown lemur is becoming different species over the course of time, so it is with most living things on earth.

[WCS at work: The Wildlife Conservation Society currently manages the largest area of protected forest in Madagascar, Masoala (show). They have worked with the president of the country, who has promised to set aside 10% of land for conservation.]

[WCS PROFILE: George Amato, conservation geneticist. George Amato analyzes the genetics of populations to help conservationists make the best decisions they can to conserve species. His analysis of brown lemur genetics helps us not only define their diversity, but carefully plan how to save it for the future.]

© 2007 Wildlife Conservation Society