Giovanna Bonadonna

a woman wearing glasses, a green shirt, and dark backpack kneeling in a jungle with two brown, gray, and black primates in the background

Giovanna Bonadonna is one of Conservation Nation’s 2023 conservationist grant winners. Currently, Giovanna is a postdoctoral researcher at Washington University in St. Louis, where she is studying the impacts of habitat fragmentation and degradation on wild lemur populations in eastern Madagascar. Her multidisciplinary approach encompasses behavioral ecology, population genetics, and health assessments, and she works closely with local Malagasy communities and NGOs while focusing on sustainability and biodiversity conservation.

Giovanna’s academic journey began with a master’s of science in evolution of animal behavior, followed by a doctorate from the University of Turin, where she addressed questions regarding lemurs’ social and mating systems and provided data for effective conservation strategies.

Project Overview

Protecting the Lemur Community in Vohibe Forest, Madagascar

Vohibe Forest, Madagascar

Giovanna’s project aims to protect 10 species of lemur in the Vohibe Forest, located in the biodiversity hotspot that is Madagascar. Nearly all lemur species are endangered, according to the IUCN, and in Madagascar deforestation is increasing while tree cover is decreasing. Giovanna’s project will work to build long-term, sustainable conservation efforts for the lemurs, while working closely with the indigenous Malagasy people.

She will accomplish this in four ways:

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