Chester Zoo and Madagasikara Voakajy

Chester Zoo is a world-leading conservation charity, driving progress towards a future where nature can not only survive but thrive. The organisation leads cutting-edge conservation projects in over 20 countries, addressing biodiversity loss, climate change, and the global extinction crisis. Madagasikara Voakajy (MV), led by 2021 Tusk Award winner Julie Razafimanahaka, is a Malagasy biodiversity organisation committed to enabling communities to live in harmony with nature while thriving through the protection and regeneration of their natural environment. Working closely with local communities, MV’s skilled conservation team draws on the knowledge and strengths of those living within Madagascar’s protected areas to reverse the decline of threatened species. For 15 years, Chester Zoo and MV have collaborated successfully on vital conservation projects that safeguard Madagascar’s rich biodiversity while helping local communities develop sustainable livelihoods. In 2015, the Mangabe Reserve—a 27,346-hectare area of protected and controlled land and MV’s flagship project—was established with the support of Chester Zoo. MV manages the Mangabe conservation landscape, working closely with local communities to care for, regenerate, and sustainably utilise the forest’s resources while improving livelihoods.