From The Telegraph
The much photographed Avenue of Baobabs on Madagascar’s west coast is both a symbol of that Indian Ocean island – in all its astonishing biodiversity – and a gateway to its future. For the road that passes between these surreal arboreal giants leads to a place where Madagascar is fighting back against the forces threatening to destroy its precious and unique environment.
The man leading that fight is Herizo Andrianandrasana, a 40-year-old conservation biologist who is one of the three nominees for this year’s prestigious Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa. Sponsored by Land Rover, it is one of two awards that will be presented at an event in London organised by the UK-based charity Tusk (01747 831005; tusk.org).
“I want to make a difference,” said Andrianandrasana, who is head of landscape conservation at Durrell Trust Madagascar. “My aim is not just to improve the management of natural resources, but also the wellbeing of the people.”
Andrianandrasana will be in London for the ceremony at Claridge’s on November 25 where the winner will receive the award from Tusk’s royal patron, Prince William. The setting is a far cry from his usual working environment, the forests of Madagascar, where I joined him last month for a tour of one of his flagship projects.
Read more at The Telegraph
