Promoting the conservation of the endemic but threatened palm Dypsis oropedionis as an umbrella species for restoring the remnant forests in the Tampoketsa of Ankazobe, highlands of Madagascar

Dypsis oropedionis is one of the rare endemic palms in the high montane of the central part of Madagascar. The species is known to be “Critically Endangered” according to the IUCN Redlist due to the continuing decline of its population size during the last decades because of various threats including habitat loss or logging of the mature individuals for accessing the fruits that are highly sought for the horticulture. This project aims to preserve the species from local extinction by, firstly involving the local communities in research and practice of its population restoration, but also, secondly, on highlighting its conservation importance through the ecosystem services it can provide such as its fruits as source of animal feeding, leaves are used by many birds and reptiles as shelters and also on its role on the soil and water conservation.