Madagascar is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots; of more than 200,000 known species found on Madagascar, more than 80% exist nowhere else. But with around 50% of the country's original forest gone, Madagascar is at the forefront of the current global extinction spasm and amongst the most vulnerable countries to global climate.

“Madagascar is a curious wonderland. It's an unrepeatable experiment, a set of animals and plants evolving in isolation for over 60 million years. We're still trying to unravel its mysteries.” - David Attenborough

For our 2020 Christmas Appeal we’d like to introduce you to our “Big Five of Sainte Luce”...but you won't find any rhino or elephants here.

SEED began as a conservation organisation and with this year marking our 20 year anniversary we wanted to take our festive appeal back to our roots. This appeal will be highlighting some of the most unique and spectacular species that we work with and alongside in Madagascar. These species have been chosen by our team, and we hope to introduce you to some of the most special things about them and how they contribute to the ecosystem in Madagascar. How many do you recognise?

What is SEED doing?

In 2021 SEED plans to embark on several environmental and livelihood focussed projects to continue, with increased momentum, our mission to see thriving communities and ecosystems across Madagascar.

We work to design, plan, fund, implement, monitor, and evaluate projects. Aligning with international development goals, we consult closely with the government, communities and other stakeholders, building projects from pilot phases through to national interventions. SEED’s projects are based on expressed local needs from communities themselves. Our four project departments implement a wide range of positive sustainable impact initiatives in a region of Madagascar that is desperately in need. Our holistic approach to projects means that it is not just a single issue being considered, we look at the wider impacts and long-term sustainability of our work to make sure that we are using our limited resources to bring about the greatest possible change.

We would like you to join us in our mission. With your support, this year’s appeal will boost the growth of our conservation and sustainable livelihoods work for 2021 and beyond.

Under our conservation work we will be:

• Monitoring population and habitat of threatened lemur species
• Establishing which bat species are found in the forest to inform conservation activity
• Establishing baseline data for a newly discovered chameleon species
• Sharing our research with both local communities and the international community

Under our sustainable livelihoods work we will be:

• Supporting women's livelihoods under the Mahampy associations to improve income opportunties and financial stability
• Assisting rural beekeepers with identifying routes to market and improving sustainable beekeeping practices

Donation Details

For single donations, you’ll receive:

• a certificate of your gift; and
• an optional subscription to a regular newsletter to keep you informed on SEED’s work (you can opt out at any point).

For monthly donations of £10 a month, you’ll receive:

• a hand-embroidered Stitch Sainte Luce bracelet;
• a certificate of your gift; and
• an optional subscription to a regular newsletter to keep you informed on SEED’s work (you can opt out at any point).

For single donations over £100 or monthly donations of £25 or over, you’ll receive:

• a Stitch flora & fauna of Madagascar wall-hanging*;
• a certificate of your gift;
• a SEED Madagascar postcard; and
• an optional subscription to a regular newsletter to keep you informed on SEED’s work (you can opt out at any point).

For single donations over £200 or monthly donations of £50 or over, you’ll receive:

• a Stitch flora & fauna of Madagascar wall-hanging*;
• a certificate of your gift;
• a SEED Madagascar postcard; and
• an optional subscription to a regular newsletter to keep you informed on SEED’s work (you can opt out at any point).
• A special limited edition gift showcasing Madagascar's special fauna.

To keep up with the Big Five and find out more about each of our special species, follow us on social media!

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