A Klemm Fellow Experience: Three Weeks in the Woods of Madagascar

In the winter break of 2016, I participated in the Klemm Fellow International Internship Program. Thanks to this fellowship, I was given the opportunity to visit the beautiful and intriguing land of Madagascar. I spent the three weeks in Andasibe, a small village located in the eastern of Madagascar. During my time there, I volunteered on a rainforest conservation project and worked at a local natural reserve. In the field, I not only saw amazing scenery of the rainforest, but also the unique flora and fauna of Madagascar. Throughout the course of my presentation, I plan to present a short movie with pictures and videos I took over there, which includes views of the forest, local village, interesting wildlife and performances from local kids. In addition, I will share the first-hand information I learned from the locals regarding the critical situation of deforestation and decrease in biodiversity in Madagascar, and why poverty exacerbates those issues to a higher degree.