Indeed even within the existing Madagascar National Park network there are a number of areas with strict protection where the habitat is still recovering from previous exploitation. Setting aside substantial blocks of additional undamaged land for National Parks where no communities currently exist is going to be very difficult politically since it will have a substantial economic impact on already poor rural communities. For habitat conservation to be really successful up to and beyond the 10% target though a conservation management system needs to be developed that allows a patchwork of exploited areas adjacent to communities with other areas given strict protection. However, does a patchwork of smaller protected areas within a framework of exploited areas enable biodiversity to be fully protected? As a test of this approach a management plan for the Mahamavo dry forests and associated wetlands in the north west of Madagascar around the village of Mariarano has been developed by the German Technical Aid programme (DTZ). This area, which Birdlife International has identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) is a patchwork of agricultural areas, exploited and protected areas with strong local community support for the approach.

Operation Wallacea has made a 5 year agreement with the Malagasy NGO, Development and Biodiversity Conservation Action for Madagascar (DBCAM) to assess the success of this approach in three different habitats across Madagascar: dry forests and wetlands in the north west, rainforest in the east and spiny forest in the southwest. In 2010 the survey efforts will concentrate on the Mahamavo forest and wetlands in north western Madagascar and in 2011 and beyond survey effort will be extended to these other sites.

The Mahamavo dry forest ecosystem and adjacent wetlands have exceptional biodiversity, but much remains to be discovered. Diurnal lemurs include Coquerel's Sifaka Propithecus coquereli, Common Brown Lemur Eulemur fulvus; Mongoose lemur Eulemur mongoz; and Lesser Western Bamboo Lemur; Hapalemur griseus with another 3 - 4 species of nocturnal lemurs. Madagascar is the global centre of diversity for chamaeleons. Several species can be found in Mahamavo including two spectacular large species, Furcifer oustaleti and Furcifer verrucosus. The wetlands support the critically endangered Madagascar fish eagle Haliaeetus vociferoides, a flagship species for the area, and Humblot's heron Ardea humbloti, an endangered species. Additionally, Mahamavo supports populations of fruit bats, Microchiroptera, several species of Tenrec (a family of insectivores, somewhat similar to hedgehogs), and extraordinary plants including mangroves, palms and succulents.