ANTANANARIVO — “Tomorrow offers two paths. On the left, extinction. On the right, survival,” eminent primatologist Jonah Ratsimbazafy told the recently concluded 30th Congress of the International Primatological Society (IPS) in Antananarivo in July.

“We are in the middle now; and I believe, like me, you will choose the path on the right. The choice is ours to make. Never give up!”

The outgoing president of the society, Ratsimbazafy was addressing the opening of its most recent congress, attended by members from more than 50 countries alongside delegates representing all of Madagascar’s universities.

Organizers called the event a moment of visibility for Madagascar, home to the world’s only entirely endemic primate fauna. In an interview with Mongabay, Ratsimbazafy reflected on the state of research and protection for the island’s iconic lemurs over the span of his five-year presidency of the IPS. He stressed several key areas he hopes researchers and governments in Madagascar and beyond will continue to address in the future.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

Mongabay: Looking back over the past 60 years, what progress has been made in primate research and conservation?

Jonah Ratsimbazafy: Over the last 60 years, we’ve seen growth in the number of organizations, field stations, research labs, journals dedicated to primates, associations, membership — all of these have advanced rapidly leading to the discovery of new species. All of these are excellent!

But if we look at the actual outcomes, the situation remains critical. In Madagascar, for example, lemurs are still being hunted, and Madagascar ranks among the top countries for permanent forest cover loss, with 7.5 million hectares [18.5 million acres] already lost in 2001-24, Madagascar also has the highest number of primates in danger with nearly all species at risk [96.4%]. Local populations are increasingly pushed to rely on natural resources for survival. The conservation infrastructure is growing, but on the ground, challenges are just as pressing.

For Madagascar, adding more species to the [list of] top 25 most endangered primates in the 2025-27 edition is not a success, it’s a call for help. It’s a sign that, despite all efforts, we have yet to make the impact we need. Debates continue around whether the priority should be site-based or species-based, but either way, the trend is alarming.

Mongabay: Madagascar hosted the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation [ATBC] conference in 2019, following which the Ivato Declaration was issued — that was also a powerful call for action to protect Madagascar’s biodiversity. What happened after that declaration?

Jonah Ratsimbazafy: That was a missed opportunity. At the time, the Ministry of Environment in Madagascar said the declaration was too difficult to pass in its current form and didn’t forward it to the president. They suggested changing some of the text, but we couldn’t because it had already been signed by many others [~ 6500 people]. If it had gone through, it could have become a powerful tool for fundraising and collaboration.

The Ivato Declaration is not so different from the ministry’s own stated policies. No alternative pathways have been adopted since the ministry opted against formally adopting the declaration, and conservation efforts have continued regardless, but, because the call to action was so concrete, it could have helped target specific issues more effectively.

Mongabay: What examples of “good practice” have come out of Madagascar in recent years?

Jonah Ratsimbazafy: One is the Madagascar Lemur Portal, a user-friendly tool to bridge the gap between researchers, conservationists, educators and field practitioners. It’s more than a database — it’s a citizen science platform that helps reconnect scientists with decision-makers and helps bring science closer to everyone, despite challenges like limited funding and data storage.

Lemurs are national treasures and a source of pride in Madagascar, yet there’s still a disconnect between science and policy. This tool is designed to be accessible, even tourists can use it, and it works on a mobile phone, making it easy for anyone to engage in conservation.

Another example is the World Lemur Festival, which takes place every year on the last Friday of October. It brings together local communities, scientists and leaders to discuss conservation. It’s an inclusive space, which is often missing from more formal political or scientific discussions.

Too often, researchers debate among themselves about how things should be done, without involving decision-makers or the local communities who are directly affected. Hunters, villagers, tourism agents, everyone concerned should be part of the conservation. We tend to assume that the researchers’ way is always the best way, but that’s not necessarily true.

Mongabay: What illustrations of harmful impacts of unequal or limited collaboration and shared intelligence in the field of primatology can you share?

Jonah Ratsimbazafy: There’s still a serious imbalance in primatology, and not just in primatology, but in other research fields in Madagascar as well. What we’ve been fighting for, regardless of who is IPS president, is recognition of local communities as valuable sources of information.

For example, new species discoveries are often credited solely to the researchers, ignoring the crucial role of local knowledge, and this applies to all researchers, not just foreigners. There’s also a debate about whether including local guides or local experts as co-authors actually benefits them. But excluding them and having only your name on the article suggests that you are the only one who deserves credit for the research. There are also local researchers who are seen merely as data collectors.

Even when research is conducted locally, samples are often sent abroad for analysis given the limited infrastructure here. We’re known for our biodiversity, but our genetic resources keep leaving the country. Those who export our genetic resources should pay a return to Madagascar; that’s an international right. Some people are really making an effort, but every time the government changes, the new officials want to bring in something ‘new’ and refuse to continue what was already working. But innovate in what sense? There is almost no continuity of the state, and that’s a major problem here.

Mongabay: What positive outcomes of improved collaboration have you observed?

Jonah Ratsimbazafy: We are building and training locally, like in the case of Centre Valbio Research Center. They are establishing advanced research infrastructure and making long-term technological investments on Madagascar’s soil.

We also know that research funding in Madagascar is largely dominated by foreign sources, especially since the national research budget is only 0.001%. When that’s the case, it’s usually the projects that match donor priorities that get funded, while others struggle.

But now, we’re starting to see more and more grants aimed at early-career researchers, [such as the Lemur Research Action Fund], which helps build their confidence and allows them to work on questions that really matter locally.

Mongabay: Reflecting on your time as IPS president, what were your priorities?

Jonah Ratsimbazafy: I’m the 14th president of IPS, and by 2026, the organization will celebrate its 60th anniversary. When I took over, IPS had already built a strong foundation under previous leadership, but I felt there was more to be done in terms of equity and inclusion.

One of the president’s tasks, though it’s a collective effort, is to maintain and grow the number of members. One of my priorities was to increase membership from countries where primates actually live, particularly in Africa and other habitat countries. But even though members from developing countries are not required to pay a membership fee, very few actually join, often simply due to lack of awareness. People from these countries might not feel like they truly belong until there is a congress like this one. For this event, for example, 40% of the attendees are Malagasy. But once the congress ends, many don’t remain members. We need to make a stronger effort to generate lasting interest and engagement from people in these countries.

We also wanted to revise the rules around grants to ensure they were distributed more equitably. For example, some people apply for all the grants and obtain them all. So we have changed the rules: They can still apply to all of them, but can only receive one. The work of others is just as important, and we want to make space for that too.

Mongabay: What’s a regret from your presidency?

Jonah Ratsimbazafy: One of my biggest regrets is that we couldn’t establish an official International Day of Lemurs. We tried working through Madagascar’s ministries with support from UNESCO to submit the proposal, but it didn’t succeed.

Mongabay: What changes should IPS promote in the future?

Jonah Ratsimbazafy: I believe there are three key areas, which I also mentioned during the opening of the Congress.

Encouraging collaborative intelligence, promoting the adoption of good practices, and promotion of inclusive collaboration.

Banner image: A black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata), an endangered species of ruffed lemur. Image by Rhett A. Butler/Mongabay.

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