this first picture is really my first understanding of exploration and
understanding of exploration and
understanding of exploration and discovery as early as I can remember my
discovery as early as I can remember my
discovery as early as I can remember my mother would take me on nature walks
mother would take me on nature walks
mother would take me on nature walks behind our house in the South Shore of
behind our house in the South Shore of
behind our house in the South Shore of Massachusetts each day we would go in
Massachusetts each day we would go in
Massachusetts each day we would go in the back of the woods and at each step
the back of the woods and at each step
the back of the woods and at each step there was discovery I can clearly
there was discovery I can clearly
there was discovery I can clearly remember these days of undergoing under
remember these days of undergoing under
remember these days of undergoing under the leaf litter and finding lady
the leaf litter and finding lady
the leaf litter and finding lady slippers or flowering Indian peace pipes
slippers or flowering Indian peace pipes
slippers or flowering Indian peace pipes or an old fox skull these days of
or an old fox skull these days of
or an old fox skull these days of discovery have stayed with me this sense
discovery have stayed with me this sense
discovery have stayed with me this sense that the forest was a place of spiritual
that the forest was a place of spiritual
that the forest was a place of spiritual communion has also stayed with me my
communion has also stayed with me my
communion has also stayed with me my mother’s sense of awe at each thing that
mother’s sense of awe at each thing that
mother’s sense of awe at each thing that we would find that was extraordinary
we would find that was extraordinary
we would find that was extraordinary really was contagious and it instilled
really was contagious and it instilled
really was contagious and it instilled in me this lesson that I carry with me
in me this lesson that I carry with me
in me this lesson that I carry with me today that the definition of
today that the definition of
today that the definition of extraordinary is just that it’s finding
extraordinary is just that it’s finding
extraordinary is just that it’s finding something ordinary but somehow elevated
something ordinary but somehow elevated
something ordinary but somehow elevated in meaning and it started with really
in meaning and it started with really
in meaning and it started with really this ephemeral bloom of a lady slipper
this ephemeral bloom of a lady slipper
this ephemeral bloom of a lady slipper in the third grade I was asked to do a
in the third grade I was asked to do a
in the third grade I was asked to do a project on an animal and as I flipped
project on an animal and as I flipped
project on an animal and as I flipped through the encyclopedia of animals I
through the encyclopedia of animals I
through the encyclopedia of animals I came across the ring-tailed lemur I
came across the ring-tailed lemur I
came across the ring-tailed lemur I completely fell in love I told my family
completely fell in love I told my family
completely fell in love I told my family that I was moving to Madagascar and they
that I was moving to Madagascar and they
that I was moving to Madagascar and they all laughed at me but it really was then
all laughed at me but it really was then
all laughed at me but it really was then that I began this lifelong commitment to
that I began this lifelong commitment to
that I began this lifelong commitment to a place that was so far from home but so
a place that was so far from home but so
a place that was so far from home but so close to my heart and I did research for
close to my heart and I did research for
close to my heart and I did research for this project I went to our local library
this project I went to our local library
this project I went to our local library and I came across as National Geographic
and I came across as National Geographic
and I came across as National Geographic issue from 1988 and I can remember
issue from 1988 and I can remember
issue from 1988 and I can remember plopping myself down on a beanbag chair
plopping myself down on a beanbag chair
plopping myself down on a beanbag chair and reading through this issue lemurs on
and reading through this issue lemurs on
and reading through this issue lemurs on the edge of survival it created in me
the edge of survival it created in me
the edge of survival it created in me this sense of urgency this sense of
this sense of urgency this sense of
this sense of urgency this sense of passion a sense of purpose that I needed
passion a sense of purpose that I needed
passion a sense of purpose that I needed to go to Madagascar and protect lemurs
to go to Madagascar and protect lemurs
to go to Madagascar and protect lemurs from this very certain fate of
from this very certain fate of
from this very certain fate of endangerment of extinction a few years
endangerment of extinction a few years
endangerment of extinction a few years later in this same library I came across
later in this same library I came across
later in this same library I came across a book called the eye eye and eye
a book called the eye eye and eye
a book called the eye eye and eye written by Gerald Durrell I read through
written by Gerald Durrell I read through
written by Gerald Durrell I read through this voraciously it became my favorite
this voraciously it became my favorite
this voraciously it became my favorite book and in many ways it still is Gerald
book and in many ways it still is Gerald
book and in many ways it still is Gerald Durrell became my hero he was a
Durrell became my hero he was a
Durrell became my hero he was a naturalist that was dedicated
naturalist that was dedicated
naturalist that was dedicated to saving animals in peril and he had a
to saving animals in peril and he had a
to saving animals in peril and he had a very special place in his heart for
very special place in his heart for
very special place in his heart for Madagascar he’s known as saying the
Madagascar he’s known as saying the
Madagascar he’s known as saying the world is as delicate and as complicated
world is as delicate and as complicated
world is as delicate and as complicated as a spider’s web if you touch one
as a spider’s web if you touch one
as a spider’s web if you touch one thread you send shudders running through
thread you send shudders running through
thread you send shudders running through all of the other threads and we’re not
all of the other threads and we’re not
all of the other threads and we’re not just tearing the web we’re we’re really
just tearing the web we’re we’re really
just tearing the web we’re we’re really tearing great holes in it and so I
tearing great holes in it and so I
tearing great holes in it and so I really began to dedicate myself to
really began to dedicate myself to
really began to dedicate myself to finding a way to go to Madagascar I
finding a way to go to Madagascar I
finding a way to go to Madagascar I wanted to write a letter to Gerald
wanted to write a letter to Gerald
wanted to write a letter to Gerald Durrell and I sent him a letter right
Durrell and I sent him a letter right
Durrell and I sent him a letter right after I read the book and told him how
after I read the book and told him how
after I read the book and told him how much that book meant to me a few months
much that book meant to me a few months
much that book meant to me a few months later I got a letter back from his wife
later I got a letter back from his wife
later I got a letter back from his wife telling me that Gerry had passed and
telling me that Gerry had passed and
telling me that Gerry had passed and that really propelled me even more to
that really propelled me even more to
that really propelled me even more to really start my career and find a way to
really start my career and find a way to
really start my career and find a way to get to Madagascar and as you can tell
get to Madagascar and as you can tell
get to Madagascar and as you can tell from the story I did find my way to
from the story I did find my way to
from the story I did find my way to Madagascar and I just met Lee Durrell
Madagascar and I just met Lee Durrell
Madagascar and I just met Lee Durrell his wife last year there
his wife last year there
his wife last year there I’ve now spent the past 15 years there
I’ve now spent the past 15 years there
I’ve now spent the past 15 years there first doing this carnivore behavioral
first doing this carnivore behavioral
first doing this carnivore behavioral biology research then starting my own
biology research then starting my own
biology research then starting my own environmental education initiative and
environmental education initiative and
environmental education initiative and before my senior year in college I
before my senior year in college I
before my senior year in college I decided to be intrepid and start off my
decided to be intrepid and start off my
decided to be intrepid and start off my own project in the northeast of
own project in the northeast of
own project in the northeast of Madagascar where Gerry worked and this
Madagascar where Gerry worked and this
Madagascar where Gerry worked and this is what I found this picture is
is what I found this picture is
is what I found this picture is incredibly disturbing this picture still
incredibly disturbing this picture still
incredibly disturbing this picture still haunts me to this day
haunts me to this day
haunts me to this day and yet I’ve come to understand it this
and yet I’ve come to understand it this
and yet I’ve come to understand it this is a far cry from the image that I had
is a far cry from the image that I had
is a far cry from the image that I had in my head from reading Gerry’s book and
in my head from reading Gerry’s book and
in my head from reading Gerry’s book and yet it was so important for me to really
yet it was so important for me to really
yet it was so important for me to really understand what this image meant I did
understand what this image meant I did
understand what this image meant I did the first research creating a systematic
the first research creating a systematic
the first research creating a systematic survey of hunting in Madagascar that
survey of hunting in Madagascar that
survey of hunting in Madagascar that started 10 years ago we’ve now monitored
started 10 years ago we’ve now monitored
started 10 years ago we’ve now monitored this population for the past 10 years
this population for the past 10 years
this population for the past 10 years really looking at their reliance on
really looking at their reliance on
really looking at their reliance on local wildlife it was the first
local wildlife it was the first
local wildlife it was the first systematic survey Madagascar’s paradigm
systematic survey Madagascar’s paradigm
systematic survey Madagascar’s paradigm has always been that the island was on
has always been that the island was on
has always been that the island was on fire and that slash-and-burn was
fire and that slash-and-burn was
fire and that slash-and-burn was destroying the forest and yet there
destroying the forest and yet there
destroying the forest and yet there there was a more hidden threat crippling
there was a more hidden threat crippling
there was a more hidden threat crippling what the wildlife populations in
what the wildlife populations in
what the wildlife populations in Madagascar there was this undercover
Madagascar there was this undercover
Madagascar there was this undercover threat of hunting and no one had
threat of hunting and no one had
threat of hunting and no one had explored this before and so I set out to
explored this before and so I set out to
explored this before and so I set out to do that in addition to the wildlife
do that in addition to the wildlife
do that in addition to the wildlife surveys I initiated a kind of project to
surveys I initiated a kind of project to
surveys I initiated a kind of project to look at a lot of the Lemur populations
look at a lot of the Lemur populations
look at a lot of the Lemur populations and how hunting was occurring and I just
and how hunting was occurring and I just
and how hunting was occurring and I just want to send a special thank you to John
want to send a special thank you to John
want to send a special thank you to John Betts who’s hopefully here he’s a
Betts who’s hopefully here he’s a
Betts who’s hopefully here he’s a National Geographic photographer who
National Geographic photographer who
National Geographic photographer who came out to visit me a few months ago
came out to visit me a few months ago
came out to visit me a few months ago I’m at a guest
I’m at a guest
I’m at a guest or in the next series of images are all
or in the next series of images are all
or in the next series of images are all his so in addition to the hunting
his so in addition to the hunting
his so in addition to the hunting surveys we set up ways of training local
surveys we set up ways of training local
surveys we set up ways of training local Malagasy training Malagasy university
Malagasy training Malagasy university
Malagasy training Malagasy university students to monitor their own wildlife
students to monitor their own wildlife
students to monitor their own wildlife we did this in both diurnal and
we did this in both diurnal and
we did this in both diurnal and nocturnal surveys we wanted to
nocturnal surveys we wanted to
nocturnal surveys we wanted to understand the ways in which hunting and
understand the ways in which hunting and
understand the ways in which hunting and I was very unidirectionally focused
I was very unidirectionally focused
I was very unidirectionally focused looking at how hunting impacted these
looking at how hunting impacted these
looking at how hunting impacted these wildlife population dynamics and not
wildlife population dynamics and not
wildlife population dynamics and not just lemurs but the tenrecs these are
just lemurs but the tenrecs these are
just lemurs but the tenrecs these are like little hedgehogs we set up a marker
like little hedgehogs we set up a marker
like little hedgehogs we set up a marker capture project to look at population
capture project to look at population
capture project to look at population dynamics we attached radio transmitters
dynamics we attached radio transmitters
dynamics we attached radio transmitters to their back to follow them and
to their back to follow them and
to their back to follow them and understand their range and to understand
understand their range and to understand
understand their range and to understand the ways in which their life history was
the ways in which their life history was
the ways in which their life history was affected by hunting but all of this
affected by hunting but all of this
affected by hunting but all of this wildlife albeit beautiful exotic
wildlife albeit beautiful exotic
wildlife albeit beautiful exotic extraordinary was reduced by local
extraordinary was reduced by local
extraordinary was reduced by local people to one thing food all of it was
people to one thing food all of it was
people to one thing food all of it was food and as I spent year after year in
food and as I spent year after year in
food and as I spent year after year in these communities and as I learned all
these communities and as I learned all
these communities and as I learned all of their local languages I came to
of their local languages I came to
of their local languages I came to realize that I needed to look through
realize that I needed to look through
realize that I needed to look through the forest in their eyes and it all
the forest in their eyes and it all
the forest in their eyes and it all became clear to me these people weren’t
became clear to me these people weren’t
became clear to me these people weren’t criminals although they were most of the
criminals although they were most of the
criminals although they were most of the hunting in Madagascar is illegal but
hunting in Madagascar is illegal but
hunting in Madagascar is illegal but these men were family men they were
these men were family men they were
these men were family men they were providers they were protecting their
providers they were protecting their
providers they were protecting their family’s welfare so what I set out to do
family’s welfare so what I set out to do
family’s welfare so what I set out to do is to start a research team and locally
is to start a research team and locally
is to start a research team and locally we called ourselves ma Haiti which means
we called ourselves ma Haiti which means
we called ourselves ma Haiti which means strength in the Malagasy language it
strength in the Malagasy language it
strength in the Malagasy language it also is an acronym that stands for
also is an acronym that stands for
also is an acronym that stands for Madagascar’s health and environmental
Madagascar’s health and environmental
Madagascar’s health and environmental research and in 2008 our team did a
research and in 2008 our team did a
research and in 2008 our team did a systematic survey of how wildlife was
systematic survey of how wildlife was
systematic survey of how wildlife was connected to human nutrition we found
connected to human nutrition we found
connected to human nutrition we found that of the local communities lost
that of the local communities lost
that of the local communities lost access to wildlife their rates of anemia
access to wildlife their rates of anemia
access to wildlife their rates of anemia would actually increase by 30 percent
would actually increase by 30 percent
would actually increase by 30 percent these results were astounding it really
these results were astounding it really
these results were astounding it really taught us that if local people messed
taught us that if local people messed
taught us that if local people messed with their natural environment they were
with their natural environment they were
with their natural environment they were actually self depleting their own
actually self depleting their own
actually self depleting their own nutritional resource it was this direct
nutritional resource it was this direct
nutritional resource it was this direct linkage between environmental change in
linkage between environmental change in
linkage between environmental change in human wellbeing it also taught me that
human wellbeing it also taught me that
human wellbeing it also taught me that if you mess with Mother Nature
if you mess with Mother Nature
if you mess with Mother Nature she might stop taking care of all of her
she might stop taking care of all of her
she might stop taking care of all of her children and so for the past 15 months
children and so for the past 15 months
children and so for the past 15 months what ended last month we decided to
what ended last month we decided to
what ended last month we decided to study this phenomenon in earnest through
study this phenomenon in earnest through
study this phenomenon in earnest through support from the Rockefeller Foundation
support from the Rockefeller Foundation
support from the Rockefeller Foundation we enrolled 700
we enrolled 700
we enrolled 700 people into our study and on a daily
people into our study and on a daily
people into our study and on a daily basis over these 15 months we measured
basis over these 15 months we measured
basis over these 15 months we measured everything that they were eating in
everything that they were eating in
everything that they were eating in their diet and every four months we
their diet and every four months we
their diet and every four months we measured we took a blood sample we took
measured we took a blood sample we took
measured we took a blood sample we took fecal samples fingernail samples so that
fecal samples fingernail samples so that
fecal samples fingernail samples so that we could understand the ways in which
we could understand the ways in which
we could understand the ways in which all of these things that are coming from
all of these things that are coming from
all of these things that are coming from the forest we’re providing nutritional
the forest we’re providing nutritional
the forest we’re providing nutritional benefits to them from the fecal samples
benefits to them from the fecal samples
benefits to them from the fecal samples looking at the ways in which intestinal
looking at the ways in which intestinal
looking at the ways in which intestinal parasites affected nutrition how dietary
parasites affected nutrition how dietary
parasites affected nutrition how dietary intake and pharmaceutical use affected
intake and pharmaceutical use affected
intake and pharmaceutical use affected their microbiome I wanted to stop having
their microbiome I wanted to stop having
their microbiome I wanted to stop having tunnel vision stop looking at only the
tunnel vision stop looking at only the
tunnel vision stop looking at only the ways in which humans were infected
ways in which humans were infected
ways in which humans were infected affecting the environment but also the
affecting the environment but also the
affecting the environment but also the ways in which the environment circled
ways in which the environment circled
ways in which the environment circled back and could benefit humans to reframe
back and could benefit humans to reframe
back and could benefit humans to reframe the conversation of conservation not
the conversation of conservation not
the conversation of conservation not only were we looking at nutrition and
only were we looking at nutrition and
only were we looking at nutrition and food security we were also looking at a
food security we were also looking at a
food security we were also looking at a different dimension of human and
different dimension of human and
different dimension of human and Wildlife interaction the ways in which
Wildlife interaction the ways in which
Wildlife interaction the ways in which hunting wildlife presented a disease
hunting wildlife presented a disease
hunting wildlife presented a disease risk so 75% of emerging infectious
risk so 75% of emerging infectious
risk so 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic meaning they’re
diseases are zoonotic meaning they’re
diseases are zoonotic meaning they’re transferred from animals to humans
transferred from animals to humans
transferred from animals to humans everything like SARS avian influenza
everything like SARS avian influenza
everything like SARS avian influenza Ebola HIV all these major pandemics are
Ebola HIV all these major pandemics are
Ebola HIV all these major pandemics are actually started an animal hosts and
actually started an animal hosts and
actually started an animal hosts and transferred to humans but the most
transferred to humans but the most
transferred to humans but the most interesting thing that I learned was
interesting thing that I learned was
interesting thing that I learned was really from local people the image
really from local people the image
really from local people the image behind me is a local rendition of the
behind me is a local rendition of the
behind me is a local rendition of the Cullen noodle she is a part of their
Cullen noodle she is a part of their
Cullen noodle she is a part of their local spiritual animist pantheon she’s
local spiritual animist pantheon she’s
local spiritual animist pantheon she’s always envisioned in the same way as a
always envisioned in the same way as a
always envisioned in the same way as a dwarf with long hair and long
dwarf with long hair and long
dwarf with long hair and long fingernails and backwards-facing feet
fingernails and backwards-facing feet
fingernails and backwards-facing feet with her heel pointing forward and her
with her heel pointing forward and her
with her heel pointing forward and her toes pointing backwards so that when she
toes pointing backwards so that when she
toes pointing backwards so that when she walks no one can track and find her but
walks no one can track and find her but
walks no one can track and find her but she does appear in people’s dreams and
she does appear in people’s dreams and
she does appear in people’s dreams and what she tells them in those dreams is
what she tells them in those dreams is
what she tells them in those dreams is which animals to have a taboo for and so
which animals to have a taboo for and so
which animals to have a taboo for and so she can in many ways be seen as a
she can in many ways be seen as a
she can in many ways be seen as a conservation spirit because she’s
conservation spirit because she’s
conservation spirit because she’s telling certain people what what to not
telling certain people what what to not
telling certain people what what to not eat what wildlife species should be
eat what wildlife species should be
eat what wildlife species should be protected and yet what she really is as
protected and yet what she really is as
protected and yet what she really is as a health spirit because in those dreams
a health spirit because in those dreams
a health spirit because in those dreams she’s giving messages like don’t eat
she’s giving messages like don’t eat
she’s giving messages like don’t eat this particular type of wildlife because
this particular type of wildlife because
this particular type of wildlife because your skin will change color you’ll bleed
your skin will change color you’ll bleed
your skin will change color you’ll bleed from your eyes you’ll bleed from your
from your eyes you’ll bleed from your
from your eyes you’ll bleed from your ears or you’ll die and all of these
ears or you’ll die and all of these
ears or you’ll die and all of these symptoms are indicative of zoonotic
symptoms are indicative of zoonotic
symptoms are indicative of zoonotic disease transfer and so I got very
disease transfer and so I got very
disease transfer and so I got very interested to see whether or not there
interested to see whether or not there
interested to see whether or not there was actually a relationship between this
was actually a relationship between this
was actually a relationship between this traditional epidemiological knowledge
traditional epidemiological knowledge
traditional epidemiological knowledge and what was actually there is a present
and what was actually there is a present
and what was actually there is a present disease risk and what I found through
disease risk and what I found through
disease risk and what I found through surveying 1200 households over the past
surveying 1200 households over the past
surveying 1200 households over the past 10 years was that the number one most
10 years was that the number one most
10 years was that the number one most commonly taboo wildlife species was the
commonly taboo wildlife species was the
commonly taboo wildlife species was the hedgehog tenrec more than 50% of the
hedgehog tenrec more than 50% of the
hedgehog tenrec more than 50% of the population had a taboo for the hedgehog
population had a taboo for the hedgehog
population had a taboo for the hedgehog tenrec and although these stories have
tenrec and although these stories have
tenrec and although these stories have been passed on for generations what we
been passed on for generations what we
been passed on for generations what we found was that just last year there was
found was that just last year there was
found was that just last year there was a discovery that the bubonic plague is
a discovery that the bubonic plague is
a discovery that the bubonic plague is present in the hedgehog tenrec and that
present in the hedgehog tenrec and that
present in the hedgehog tenrec and that they have this kind of immunity to the
they have this kind of immunity to the
they have this kind of immunity to the bubonic plague and so it consistently
bubonic plague and so it consistently
bubonic plague and so it consistently spills over into human populations and
spills over into human populations and
spills over into human populations and wildlife populations and rodent
wildlife populations and rodent
wildlife populations and rodent populations and presents a disease risk
populations and presents a disease risk
populations and presents a disease risk and if you’ve been following the news in
and if you’ve been following the news in
and if you’ve been following the news in October of last year
October of last year
October of last year Madagascar experienced the largest
Madagascar experienced the largest
Madagascar experienced the largest epidemic outbreak of bubonic plague
epidemic outbreak of bubonic plague
epidemic outbreak of bubonic plague since the Middle Ages
since the Middle Ages
since the Middle Ages and so I just think there’s a tremendous
and so I just think there’s a tremendous
and so I just think there’s a tremendous amount that we can learn through local
amount that we can learn through local
amount that we can learn through local knowledge so what happens now
knowledge so what happens now
knowledge so what happens now we know for two reasons that wildlife
we know for two reasons that wildlife
we know for two reasons that wildlife consumption is bad it presents this
consumption is bad it presents this
consumption is bad it presents this terrible risk to endemic wildlife
terrible risk to endemic wildlife
terrible risk to endemic wildlife populations it presents a tremendous
populations it presents a tremendous
populations it presents a tremendous infectious disease risk to local humans
infectious disease risk to local humans
infectious disease risk to local humans and yet it provides this critical source
and yet it provides this critical source
and yet it provides this critical source of nutrition to local people so where do
of nutrition to local people so where do
of nutrition to local people so where do we go
we go
we go we’ve decided to implement a sustainable
we’ve decided to implement a sustainable
we’ve decided to implement a sustainable chicken husbandry project and this is
chicken husbandry project and this is
chicken husbandry project and this is good idea for for several different
good idea for for several different
good idea for for several different reasons number one is that I’ve done a
reasons number one is that I’ve done a
reasons number one is that I’ve done a taste preferences study looking at 23
taste preferences study looking at 23
taste preferences study looking at 23 different species of wildlife and 10
different species of wildlife and 10
different species of wildlife and 10 species of domesticated meats and across
species of domesticated meats and across
species of domesticated meats and across the board chicken is their number one
the board chicken is their number one
the board chicken is their number one taste preference so not everything
taste preference so not everything
taste preference so not everything tastes like chicken
tastes like chicken
tastes like chicken the second is that using this pervasive
the second is that using this pervasive
the second is that using this pervasive and complex taboo system across the
and complex taboo system across the
and complex taboo system across the board no one has a taboo for chicken and
board no one has a taboo for chicken and
board no one has a taboo for chicken and so if we’re looking at a population
so if we’re looking at a population
so if we’re looking at a population intervention that’s applicable to
intervention that’s applicable to
intervention that’s applicable to everyone chicken is really the answer
everyone chicken is really the answer
everyone chicken is really the answer and wildlife species are less preferred
and wildlife species are less preferred
and wildlife species are less preferred and also less expensive so if we can
and also less expensive so if we can
and also less expensive so if we can develop ways to make chickens more
develop ways to make chickens more
develop ways to make chickens more productive it could reduce the price and
productive it could reduce the price and
productive it could reduce the price and almost naturally wean people away from
almost naturally wean people away from
almost naturally wean people away from wildlife and into chicken the problem is
wildlife and into chicken the problem is
wildlife and into chicken the problem is that there is Newcastle disease this is
that there is Newcastle disease this is
that there is Newcastle disease this is a pathogen that wipes out 80 to 100
a pathogen that wipes out 80 to 100
a pathogen that wipes out 80 to 100 percent of the chicken flocks seasonally
percent of the chicken flocks seasonally
percent of the chicken flocks seasonally so we just received funding from the
so we just received funding from the
so we just received funding from the Norfolk Family Foundation a few weeks
Norfolk Family Foundation a few weeks
Norfolk Family Foundation a few weeks ago actually and it will import a
ago actually and it will import a
ago actually and it will import a vaccine from Malaysia subsidize its
vaccine from Malaysia subsidize its
vaccine from Malaysia subsidize its costs will get extension agents that
costs will get extension agents that
costs will get extension agents that will be teaching people about
will be teaching people about
will be teaching people about biosecurity measures and husbandry
biosecurity measures and husbandry
biosecurity measures and husbandry conditions and hopefully be able to
conditions and hopefully be able to
conditions and hopefully be able to really tackle this problem on a local
really tackle this problem on a local
really tackle this problem on a local scale so the case study that I’ve
scale so the case study that I’ve
scale so the case study that I’ve mentioned is not operating in isolation
mentioned is not operating in isolation
mentioned is not operating in isolation it’s part of a larger effort called heal
it’s part of a larger effort called heal
it’s part of a larger effort called heal health and ecosystems analysis of
health and ecosystems analysis of
health and ecosystems analysis of linkages it’s a program that’s based at
linkages it’s a program that’s based at
linkages it’s a program that’s based at WCS I’ve recently become the director as
WCS I’ve recently become the director as
WCS I’ve recently become the director as of January it’s a 25 institution
of January it’s a 25 institution
of January it’s a 25 institution consortium that partners academic NGO
consortium that partners academic NGO
consortium that partners academic NGO and governmental organizations together
and governmental organizations together
and governmental organizations together to tackle this data gap it’s very
to tackle this data gap it’s very
to tackle this data gap it’s very intuitive that the environment and
intuitive that the environment and
intuitive that the environment and health area is linked and yet the
health area is linked and yet the
health area is linked and yet the evidence base is very weak what I see is
evidence base is very weak what I see is
evidence base is very weak what I see is a very natural transfer from the
a very natural transfer from the
a very natural transfer from the terrestrial system into the marine
terrestrial system into the marine
terrestrial system into the marine system to look at the ways in which
system to look at the ways in which
system to look at the ways in which marine conservation through no-take
marine conservation through no-take
marine conservation through no-take zones seasonal closures or gear
zones seasonal closures or gear
zones seasonal closures or gear restrictions can protect biodiversity
restrictions can protect biodiversity
restrictions can protect biodiversity but also increase the productivity of
but also increase the productivity of
but also increase the productivity of fish stocks this increased productivity
fish stocks this increased productivity
fish stocks this increased productivity doesn’t stay within the bounds of the
doesn’t stay within the bounds of the
doesn’t stay within the bounds of the marine protected area but spills over
marine protected area but spills over
marine protected area but spills over into adjacent communities and we want to
into adjacent communities and we want to
into adjacent communities and we want to measure empirically the ways in which
measure empirically the ways in which
measure empirically the ways in which there are nutritional benefits
there are nutritional benefits
there are nutritional benefits livelihood benefits health benefits that
livelihood benefits health benefits that
livelihood benefits health benefits that arise from marine conservation so we
arise from marine conservation so we
arise from marine conservation so we don’t think of it as an environmental
don’t think of it as an environmental
don’t think of it as an environmental intervention we can frame conservation
intervention we can frame conservation
intervention we can frame conservation as a public health intervention so in
as a public health intervention so in
as a public health intervention so in closing I just want to say that I really
closing I just want to say that I really
closing I just want to say that I really found this extraordinary place in
found this extraordinary place in
found this extraordinary place in Madagascar but I also found it in my
Madagascar but I also found it in my
Madagascar but I also found it in my backyard and the more and more I
backyard and the more and more I
backyard and the more and more I discover about myself the more and more
discover about myself the more and more
discover about myself the more and more I see that these experiences were
I see that these experiences were
I see that these experiences were entirely parallel
entirely parallel
entirely parallel as I began to look through local
as I began to look through local
as I began to look through local people’s eyes and see how they really
people’s eyes and see how they really
people’s eyes and see how they really saw the forest as benefiting their
saw the forest as benefiting their
saw the forest as benefiting their health we too are receiving a very
health we too are receiving a very
health we too are receiving a very certain type of health benefit from the
certain type of health benefit from the
certain type of health benefit from the areas that surround us and so I just
areas that surround us and so I just
areas that surround us and so I just want to say that exploration can really
want to say that exploration can really
want to say that exploration can really take us far afield and yet I think the
take us far afield and yet I think the
take us far afield and yet I think the most important thing that we can do is
most important thing that we can do is
most important thing that we can do is take what we find in those explorations
take what we find in those explorations
take what we find in those explorations and make sure that we take it home thank
and make sure that we take it home thank
and make sure that we take it home thank you
”
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