Dr. Abigail Ross Foundation for Applied Conservation

08/21/2026

We are happy to share some developments from Andasifahadimy:

1. Art That Speaks for One Health 🌿🐾❤️
We are happy to share the beautiful new murals at the Clinic in Andasifahadimy! 🎨
The mural in the education and training room highlights the One Health approach that TDARFAC is working to promote: healthy people, thriving alongside healthy wildlife and healthy environments.
Here in Andasifahadimy, the forest is the village’s fence, and wildlife are our neighbors. This close connection reminds us of our responsibility to protect the incredible natural treasure that surrounds us. The mural also reflects the strong motivation and willingness of local communities to safeguard the precious forests for generations to come. 🌳🐒
In the children’s room, our message is simple and inspiring: Learn. Grow. Share. 📚🌱🤝

2. Strengthening Healthcare for Mothers and Children 💙
We are pleased to share that a strong collaboration has been established with CSB II Andasibe, following a meeting between the TDARFAC team and the Head of CSB II Andasibe, Dr. Heritiana Randriarilala.
Together, we have identified practical solutions to bring healthcare services closer to people living far from health facilities, so that children and pregnant women can receive their vaccinations properly and on time. 💉👶🤰
This collaboration is an important step toward making essential healthcare more accessible to communities in remote areas.
We sincerely thank CSB II Andasibe and the Ministry of Public Health for their support and commitment to improving the health and well-being of mothers and children. 🙏
More updates and exciting developments are coming soon. Stay tuned! 📢

3. Women at the Heart of Conservation 🌿💚
We are very happy to introduce a strong women’s association working at the grassroots level in Andasifahadimy, ready to join forces with us in protecting the environment and our precious wildlife. 🌳🐒
We are proud and grateful to have the opportunity to work hand in hand with these committed women who are taking an active role in building a more sustainable future for their community.
We look forward to sharing more about the collaborations and initiatives that will begin very soon. 🤝🌱

08/19/2026

Save the Date: 2027 Applied Conservation Grants

TDARFAC will accept proposals for its 2027 Applied Conservation Grant cycle from December 10, 2026 through January 8, 2027.

Applicants must habitually reside in a country where non-human primates occur naturally in the wild, and proposed projects must demonstrate a clear and direct connection to non-human primate conservation.

Eligible work may include applied biodiversity research, public or environmental health, education, policy engagement, fieldwork, and community-based conservation.

Members of the upcoming *February 2027* Conservation Masterminds cohort are eligible for priority consideration. This means that Conservation Masterminds applicants do not receive automatic funding or additional points during review; however, when proposals are comparably ranked and available funding is limited, preference may be given to an eligible Masterminds cohort member. All proposals must meet the same eligibility and submission requirements and undergo the same double-blind review process.

Interested applicants are encouraged to review the full requirements now and begin preparing early.

More information, application guidelines, and writing resources are available using the QR code below.

Please share with conservationists, researchers, students, and colleagues working in primate-range countries who may be interested.

08/10/2026

08/10/2026

07/16/2026

07/15/2026

We are thrilled to announce that the application process for the IPS Pre-Congress Training Program is now open for application (please click the following link for access to access to application form: Application form). The deadline for applications is Monday August 17th, 2026 and applicants w...

06/18/2026

A quick note about something we are often asked:

Many people see the word “Foundation” in our name and assume that we have a large endowment or significant financial resources behind us. The reality is quite different.

TDARFAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies heavily on donor support to carry out our work. We are also classified as a private operating foundation, which means we don’t simply provide grants—we actively design, implement, and manage conservation, education, and community health programs ourselves.

Every student supported, every project undertaken is made possible through the generosity of our donors.

One example is the new Community Health Clinic and Education Center in Andasifahadimy. While construction is complete, the real challenge is sustaining operations year after year. Midwife and nurse salaries, medical supplies, vaccines, training, educational programming, maintenance, and transportation all require ongoing funding. These recurring expenses are often less visible than constructing a building, but they are what make lasting impact possible.

The truth is that if we waited until we had all the funding in hand to do everything perfectly, projects would not happen. Instead, we do our homework, build strong local partnerships, raise funds as responsibly as we can, and push forward. We take calculated risks because forests and communities need support now—not someday when conditions are perfect.

“Foundation” describes our legal structure. It does not mean we have unlimited resources. Like many nonprofits, we depend on the generosity of individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to continue our work.

💚To everyone who has donated, volunteered, partnered with us, or simply shared our mission with others: thank you. You are the reason any of this is possible.

Help support our work:
foundationforappliedconservation.org

06/08/2026

We’re excited to highlight TDARFAC grantee Koloina Rakotoarivelo, a PhD candidate at the University of Antananarivo, whose research is helping advance our understanding of the critically endangered diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema) in Madagascar’s NAP Tsinjoarivo-Ambalaomby.

Over the course of her research, Koloina spent hundreds of days in the field studying sifaka behavior, habitat use, and feeding ecology across fragmented and continuous forests. Her work is generating valuable information for habitat restoration, conservation planning, and the long-term protection of one of Madagascar’s most iconic lemurs.

But her impact extends beyond research. Koloina has collaborated with local guides, engaged communities in conservation activities, and conducted outreach programs with secondary school students to inspire the next generation of conservationists.

At TDARFAC, we believe that investing in local scientists is one of the most effective ways to create lasting conservation impact. Koloina’s work exemplifies the passion, dedication, and leadership that is changing the future of conservation in Madagascar. 💚

Learn more about Koloina's PhD project here: https://www.foundationforappliedconservation.org/notes-from-the-field/emerging-conservation-leader-spotlight-koloina-rakotoarivelo

05/23/2026

Yesterday was a very special moment as we celebrated the ribbon cutting of the Andasifahadimy Community Healthcare Clinic and Education Center.

What began as an idea and a dream is now a reality built through partnership, hard work, and the belief that healthy communities and healthy forests go hand in hand.

A huge thank you to Dr. Justorien Rambeloniaina and Jhoanny Rasojivola for their leadership and tireless dedication, and to all of the TDARFAC volunteers who worked so hard to help make this day possible. Many hands came together to build this, and today is only the beginning.

We are also so proud to welcome Midwife Briela and Nurse Ronal, who will help lead this clinic and serve Andasifahadimy and many surrounding communities with compassion and care.

Thank you to our partners, supporters, local leaders, and the entire Andasifahadimy community for believing in this vision. Together, we are building something much bigger than a building. We are building hope, opportunity, health, and a stronger future for both people and forests.

Today was not an ending. It was the first step forward.

Help stock the clinic with essential medicines, vaccines & a small refrigerator to store them in, mosquito nets, educational materials: https://gofund.me/fc01928e8