On August 19, 2026, the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership (MBP) and its partners reached an extraordinary milestone: 9,000,000 trees planted in Madagascar.
This achievement represents years of work dedicated to forest restoration, biodiversity conservation, and supporting local communities. For the Marat Karpeka Lemur Foundation, it is also a reminder of why protecting Madagascar's forests is at the heart of lemur conservation.
More than 9 million trees A number like 9 million is difficult to imagine.
But every tree begins as something small — a seed, a young plant, a few leaves pushing through the soil.
Over time, thousands and then millions of these trees can transform damaged landscapes, restore forest corridors, improve habitats, and create new opportunities for wildlife to return.
For Madagascar's lemurs, healthy forests are essential. Lemurs depend on forests for food, shelter, reproduction, and protection. When forests disappear, the animals that depend on them lose much more than trees — they lose their homes.
This achievement represents years of work dedicated to forest restoration, biodiversity conservation, and supporting local communities. For the Marat Karpeka Lemur Foundation, it is also a reminder of why protecting Madagascar's forests is at the heart of lemur conservation.
More than 9 million trees A number like 9 million is difficult to imagine.
But every tree begins as something small — a seed, a young plant, a few leaves pushing through the soil.
Over time, thousands and then millions of these trees can transform damaged landscapes, restore forest corridors, improve habitats, and create new opportunities for wildlife to return.
For Madagascar's lemurs, healthy forests are essential. Lemurs depend on forests for food, shelter, reproduction, and protection. When forests disappear, the animals that depend on them lose much more than trees — they lose their homes.
Forest restoration helps rebuild that home.
Celebrating a special Malagasy treeTo mark the 9-million-tree milestone, the team planted Letchis ala (Raloto), Tina apiculata, a tree from the Sapindaceae family that is endemic to Madagascar.
Choosing a native Malagasy species makes this milestone especially meaningful. Forest restoration is not simply about planting as many trees as possible. It is about restoring ecosystems with plants that belong there and can become part of the natural environment.
A single seedling may seem insignificant today. But given time, it can become part of a forest that provides food and shelter for countless species.
Forests, wildlife and communitiesSuccessful conservation depends on more than protecting animals.
It also means working with the people who live alongside Madagascar's forests.
The Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership's restoration efforts bring together scientists, conservation organizations, local communities, and other partners. Their work demonstrates what can happen when conservation becomes a shared long-term commitment.
The 9-million-tree milestone is therefore not just a number. It represents years of collaboration and thousands of individual actions.
Why this matters for lemursMadagascar is home to an extraordinary diversity of lemurs, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth.
Their survival is closely connected to the survival of the island's forests.
Lemurs also contribute to the ecosystems they inhabit. By eating fruit and moving through the forest, many species help disperse seeds. Some lemurs also contribute to pollination. In this way, they are not simply inhabitants of the forest — they are active participants in its regeneration.
Protecting lemurs and restoring forests therefore go hand in hand.
Celebrating a special Malagasy treeTo mark the 9-million-tree milestone, the team planted Letchis ala (Raloto), Tina apiculata, a tree from the Sapindaceae family that is endemic to Madagascar.
Choosing a native Malagasy species makes this milestone especially meaningful. Forest restoration is not simply about planting as many trees as possible. It is about restoring ecosystems with plants that belong there and can become part of the natural environment.
A single seedling may seem insignificant today. But given time, it can become part of a forest that provides food and shelter for countless species.
Forests, wildlife and communitiesSuccessful conservation depends on more than protecting animals.
It also means working with the people who live alongside Madagascar's forests.
The Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership's restoration efforts bring together scientists, conservation organizations, local communities, and other partners. Their work demonstrates what can happen when conservation becomes a shared long-term commitment.
The 9-million-tree milestone is therefore not just a number. It represents years of collaboration and thousands of individual actions.
Why this matters for lemursMadagascar is home to an extraordinary diversity of lemurs, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth.
Their survival is closely connected to the survival of the island's forests.
Lemurs also contribute to the ecosystems they inhabit. By eating fruit and moving through the forest, many species help disperse seeds. Some lemurs also contribute to pollination. In this way, they are not simply inhabitants of the forest — they are active participants in its regeneration.
Protecting lemurs and restoring forests therefore go hand in hand.
More forests mean more habitat.
More habitat means a better chance for lemurs to survive.
A milestone worth celebrating — and a journey that continuesThe Marat Karpeka Lemur Foundation is proud to support conservation and forest restoration efforts in Madagascar and to work alongside organizations committed to protecting the island's unique biodiversity.
We congratulate the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership and all the partners, scientists, local communities, and conservationists who helped make this milestone possible.
9 million trees have been planted.
But the work does not end here.
Every new seedling is a step toward restoring Madagascar's forests — and creating a future where lemurs and the ecosystems they depend on can thrive.
More trees. More habitat. More hope for Madagascar's lemurs.
More habitat means a better chance for lemurs to survive.
A milestone worth celebrating — and a journey that continuesThe Marat Karpeka Lemur Foundation is proud to support conservation and forest restoration efforts in Madagascar and to work alongside organizations committed to protecting the island's unique biodiversity.
We congratulate the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership and all the partners, scientists, local communities, and conservationists who helped make this milestone possible.
9 million trees have been planted.
But the work does not end here.
Every new seedling is a step toward restoring Madagascar's forests — and creating a future where lemurs and the ecosystems they depend on can thrive.
More trees. More habitat. More hope for Madagascar's lemurs.
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