Daniel Rakotondravony, Ph.D.

Director of Animal Biology, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar

"The problem in the field in Madagascar is not simply one of biology," says Professor Rakotondravony. "It has to do with sociology and economics. The greatest threat comes from impoverished people who cut down the forest and cultivate what they need to survive. Illegal logging is the next greatest threat. Companies agree in government contracts to replant, but often fail to do so." These complex challenges require conservation professionals not only trained in science, insists Dr. Rakotondravony, but also knowledgeable about law, management, economics, and sociology.