Madagascar was the focus of the sixth EAZA Annual Conservation Campaign. The EAZA Madagascar Campaign 2006/7 was officially launched on Wednesday 4 October 2006 during the EAZA Annual Conference in Madrid.
On 12 September 2007 the campaign was closed at the EAZA Annual Conference in Warsaw. At this closing session special awards were handed out to several EAZA member institutions in recognition of their exceptional campaign efforts, and concluded with announcing the preliminary fundraising result; an amazing €450,635.81!
The EAZA Madagascar Campaign 2006/7 had four main targets:
to raise public awareness;
to collect funds for conservation projects
on the island (fundraising goal: €500.000);
to promote eco-tourism to Madagascar;
to promote twinning between EAZA
members and National Parks and other
protected areas.
A total number of 133 EAZA members (and 34 non-EAZA members) participated in the campaign. An overview of all participating institutions can be found here (pdf).
In June 2007 an Emergency Appeal was sent out to all campaign participants to support the victims of a series of cyclones that hit Madagascar in March and April 2007. Several villages were heavily damaged and large areas land were flooded, affecting hundred thousands of people.
Many participating institutions replied quickly to offer their support and by the end of May a total of €25,000 was raised. The funds were transferred to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) to support the affected people in Makira and Masoala by providing food and shelter. On the long term, the funds can be used to rebuild infrastructure (roads, bridges), houses, communal buildings (schools, clinics) and replace lost crops.