Mission
Statement:
Lambas for Lemurs is a
conservation education program created to promote the conservation of
primates in Madagascar.
Our
specific aims are:
To promote regional pride in
lemurs; to raise awareness of the conservation issues facing lemurs; to
link the importance of the role that lemurs play in a healthy and
wealthy forest; and to highlight the importance of the forest for human
and lemur survival.
Background:
Tradition often plays a
strong role in Malagasy life. One such tradition is the
utilization of a sarong like cloth called a lamba. Like
sarongs, lambas are square cotton clothes worn by men and women as
skirts, robes, scarves, and head wear. Lambas generally have
traditional images and contain proverbs or messages.
In 2008, Megan Shrum
conducted research within the Boeny Region of northwest Madgascar.
During her research, she made several observations about the region
that lead to the development of this project. She found that
many people living near mongoose lemur habitat did not know that lemurs
were only found in Madgascar and that mongoose lemurs were only found
in their local forests. She noticed widespread use and
cultural significance of the lamba in the everyday life of the men and
women in the region and that there were not any lambas with lemurs.
The warmth and friendliness
of the Malagasy was apparent throughout the region. Shrum
also noticed a great deal of regional pride among the people she
met. People were very proud to be from Madagascar and more
specifically, from the Boeny region.
We hope that through Lambas
for Lemurs projects in the region, we can generate excitement and pride
for the lemurs and the forests that they depend on.
Project:
Lambas for Lemurs will produce and distribute locally made lambas containing images of mongoose lemurs and a message of conservation to villagers living in communities near mongoose lemur habitat.
