TROPICAL RAINFORESTS: Saving What Remains
"There Are No Lemurs in America?"
Education provides local people with the information that the species around them are special. The poor who are poaching animals from reserves and burning the forests often have no idea that the species around them are unique. For example, in Madagascar many locals assume that the lemurs, chameleons, and tenrics that surround them are found all over the world. They are surprised to learn that these species are found only in the patch of forest behind their village and not in America, Europe, or even other parts of Madagascar. Once local people realize that their species are unique, they often begin to take pride in their native fauna, and become more conscious in their efforts to preserve it. Local people can value these species as another means to provide income when they see that people are willing to travel great distances just to see these animals.Continued: Saving rainforests [an error occurred while processing this directive]