Understanding the role of organizational legitimacy within the realm of the community-based conservation approach

Many organizations throughout the world utilize community based conservation (CBC) strategies to incorporate rural communities into conservation efforts. One key component to the success of these strategies is to gain trust within the communities which reside in the vicinity of the targeted areas for conservation. The research reported here introduces the concept of organizational legitimacy into the realm of CBC strategy by proposing how dimensions of legitimacy (pragmatic, moral, and cognitive) are related to community trust and attitudes. Employing institutional theory, this paper proposes that (i) pragmatic and moral legitimacy produce trust, (ii) trust positively influences cognitive legitimacy, and (iii) cognitive legitimacy influences attitudes. The Missouri Botanical Garden’s (MBG) CBC efforts in Madagascar’s Ambalabe and Mahabo communities served to empirically examine these propositions. The survey yielded 1 01 usable responses from community members in Mahabo and Ambalabe. A structural model was estimated to test the propositions and the results provided support for the premise that organizational legitimacy is needed to gain trust and influence favorable attitudes toward the organization. Since CBC strategies rely on trust between organizations and communities, the findings of this research provide implications for organizations seeking to implement CBC strategies. The findings do so by implying that in order to build trust with communities, organizations should first establish legitimacy, which not only helps build trust, but also indirectly affects attitudes toward the organization and its activities

Value of useful goods and ecosystem services from Agnalavelo sacred forest and their relationships with forest conservation

ABSTRACTAgnalavelo forest provides necessary natural resources to people who live in its surroundings (Communities of Mahaboboka, Amboronabo and Mikoboka in southwestern Madagascar). The aim of this study is to document goods and ecosystem services provided by Agnalavelo forest to local people and to use it as a tool for the identification of priorities for forest conservation. Oral interviews were undertaken from 2010–2013 with local communities living in the vicinity of Agnalavelo forest. This study also investigated forest resource use, conducted inventories of tree species, estimated wood biovolume, as well as the economic benefits associated with conservation due to carbon storage. Finally, we recorded felled trees caused by honey collection inside the forest and determine the cause for their slaughter. An investigation with the ownership of rice fields irrigated by rivers taking sources from Agnalavelo forest was also conducted. Based on field surveys and analysis, communities living around Agnalavelo forest draw substantial benefits for their daily life from the forest. Goods and ecosystem services are classified in the three categories (provisioning, cultural and regulating services) according to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA). Cultural services are highly valuable to local people as the forest is a dwelling place for their ancestor’s spirits. Agnalavelo forest provides Non Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) such as foods, tools, magic and medicinal plants and fresh water for local people. It is able to store 152 tons of carbon per hectare which is very important for climate regulation in this dry southwestern part of Madagascar. Endemic tree species hosting bee hives are often felled during harvesting period. Agnalavelo forest conservation is very important not only with regards to its biodiversity but also for goods and services that it provides to local population.RÉSUMÉLa forêt d’Agnalavelo, sur les communes de Mahaboboka, Amboronabo et Mikoboka, au sud-ouest de Madagascar, fournit les ressources naturelles nécessaires pour la population riveraine. L’objectif de cette étude a été de documenter les biens et les services éco-systémiques fournis par la forêt d’Agnalavelo pour les populations locales, afin d’identifier les priorités pour la conservation de cette forêt. Des enquêtes auprès des communautés vivant à proximité de la forêt Agnalavelo ont été menées, entre 2010 et 2013, sur l'utilisation des ressources forestières. Des inventaires écologiques des espèces d'arbres forestiers utilisés ont été réalisés pour déterminer le biovolume ainsi que les bénéfices économiques associés à la conservation de la forêt d’Agnalavelo par le stockage de carbone. Un inventaire des arbres abattus le long d'une piste forestière et les causes de leurs abattages ont complété l’étude, ainsi que des enquêtes auprès des propriétaires des rizières irriguées par les rivières qui prennent leurs sources dans la forêt d’Agnalavelo qui ont révélé que les communautés riveraines en tirent profit dans leur quotidien. La forêt d’Agnalavelo offre trois catégories de biens et services écosystémiques, à savoir les services d’approvisionnement, les services culturels et les services de régulation. Les services culturels sont les plus importants pour la population locale. La forêt d’Agnalavelo fournit les produits forestiers non ligneux tels que de la nourriture, des outils, des plantes considérées comme magiques, des plantes médicinales et de l'eau douce pour la population locale. La forêt d’Agnalavelo peut stocker 152 tonnes de carbone par hectare, valeur importante pour la régulation du climat dans cette région sèche de Madagascar. Des arbres appartenant à des espèces endémiques de Madagascar et abritant des ruches sont souvent abattus lors de la récolte du miel. La conservation de la forêt d’Agnalavelo est importante aussi bien pour la biodiversité qu’elle héberge que pour les biens et services des écosystèmes qu'elle fournit à la population locale

Sentinel surveillance system for early outbreak detection in Madagascar

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Following the outbreak of chikungunya in the Indian Ocean, the Ministry of Health directed the necessary development of an early outbreak detection system. A disease surveillance team including the Institut Pasteur in Madagascar (IPM) was organized to establish a sentinel syndromic-based surveillance system. The system, which was set up in March 2007, transmits patient data on a daily basis from the various voluntary general practitioners throughout the six provinces of the country to the IPM. We describe the challenges and steps involved in developing a sentinel surveillance system and the well-timed information it provides for improving public health decision-making.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Surveillance was based on data collected from sentinel general practitioners (SGP). The SGPs report the sex, age, visit date and time, and symptoms of each new patient weekly, using forms addressed to the management team. However, the system is original in that SGPs also report data at least once a day, from Monday to Friday (number of fever cases, rapid test confirmed malaria, influenza, arboviral syndromes or diarrhoeal disease), by cellular telephone (encrypted message SMS). Information can also be validated by the management team, by mobile phone. This data transmission costs 120 ariary per day, less than US$1 per month.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In 2008, the sentinel surveillance system included 13 health centers, and identified 5 outbreaks. Of the 218,849 visits to SGPs, 12.2% were related to fever syndromes. Of these 26,669 fever cases, 12.3% were related to Dengue-like fever, 11.1% to Influenza-like illness and 9.7% to malaria cases confirmed by a specific rapid diagnostic test.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The sentinel surveillance system represents the first nationwide real-time-like surveillance system ever established in Madagascar. Our findings should encourage other African countries to develop their own syndromic surveillance systems.</p> <p>Prompt detection of an outbreak of infectious disease may lead to control measures that limit its impact and help prevent future outbreaks.</p

Understanding the role of organizational legitimacy within the realm of the community-based conservation approach

Many organizations throughout the world utilize community based conservation (CBC) strategies to incorporate rural communities into conservation efforts. One key component to the success of these strategies is to gain trust within the communities which reside in the vicinity of the targeted areas for conservation. The research reported here introduces the concept of organizational legitimacy into the realm of CBC strategy by proposing how dimensions of legitimacy (pragmatic, moral, and cognitive) are related to community trust and attitudes. Employing institutional theory, this paper proposes that (i) pragmatic and moral legitimacy produce trust, (ii) trust positively influences cognitive legitimacy, and (iii) cognitive legitimacy influences attitudes. The Missouri Botanical Garden’s (MBG) CBC efforts in Madagascar’s Ambalabe and Mahabo communities served to empirically examine these propositions. The survey yielded 1 01 usable responses from community members in Mahabo and Ambalabe. A structural model was estimated to test the propositions and the results provided support for the premise that organizational legitimacy is needed to gain trust and influence favorable attitudes toward the organization. Since CBC strategies rely on trust between organizations and communities, the findings of this research provide implications for organizations seeking to implement CBC strategies. The findings do so by implying that in order to build trust with communities, organizations should first establish legitimacy, which not only helps build trust, but also indirectly affects attitudes toward the organization and its activities

Révision taxonomique du genre &lt;i&gt;Micronychia&lt;/i&gt; (Anacardiaceae) endémique de Madagascar.

Révision de Micronychia Oliv. (Anacardiaceae : Rhoideae), genre endémique de Madagascar représenté par des arbres et des arbustes. Une clé de détermination, les descriptions des espèces ainsi que des informations sur leurs distribution, habitat et phénologie sont aussi présentées. Cinq espèces (dont une nouvelle) et une variété sont reconnues. La nouvelle espèce, M. acuminata Randrianasolo, se distingue facilement des autres espèces de Micronychia par ses feuilles qui sont petites et longuement acuminées.A taxonomic revision of Micronychia Oliv. (Anacardiaceae: Rhoideae) is presented, a genus of trees and shrubs endemic to Madagascar. A key and descriptions are provided, and distribution, habitat and phenology of each species are also discussed. Five species and one variety are recognized, one of which is described as new, M. acuminata Randrianasolo, which is easily distinguished from the other members of the genus by its small and long acuminate leaves

Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Sarcolaena (Sarcolaenaceae)

Volume: 86Start Page: 702End Page: 72

A revision of Campnosperma (Anacardiaceae) in Madagascar

Volume: 20Start Page: 285End Page: 29