Training today’s researchers for tomorrow: the first two Master’s degrees approved as part of CCC’s projects in Madagascar

The Caméléon Center Conservation has reached a significant milestone in the development of its scientific and educational approach: two students have just successfully completed their Master’s theses, which were carried out as part of our research and conservation projects in the Vohimana Reserve, in eastern Madagascar.

These first degrees are a concrete illustration of one of the CCC’s fundamental pillars: training a new generation of researchers capable of working both in the field and within international scientific networks, by integrating robust data in the service of applied conservation.

Two different paths, the same academic rigour

The first student, Colin Ruffieux, obtained a Master of Science in Biology from the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland).

His thesis, “Perch selection, plant species preferences and response to forest degradation of Leaf Chameleons (Brookesia sp.) in the Vohimana Reserve, eastern Madagascar”, provides new insights into the fine-scale ecology of leaf chameleons of the genus Brookesia. In particular, it highlights the links between perch selection, vegetation and habitat degradation.

The second student, Bora Kanoso Alzeid, obtained a Master’s degree in Life Sciences, specialising in Biodiversity and the Environment, at the University of Toliara (Madagascar).

Her thesis, entitled “Estimating the abundance of chameleons in the Vohimana Reserve, Moramanga District, Alaotra-Mangoro Region, Madagascar”, represents a significant step forward in quantifying chameleon populations and gaining a better understanding of their distribution within a complex ecological context.

Useful research in the service of conservation

These two studies form part of our research and conservation projects for chameleons in eastern Madagascar, led by CCC. They contribute directly to improving scientific knowledge of chameleon ecology and population dynamics, developing decision-making tools for reserve managers, and proposing concrete conservation measures tailored to on-the-ground realities.

By producing standardised and actionable data, this research helps guide informed actions aimed at preserving forest ecosystems whilst ensuring the protection of species.

A rapidly growing training programme

Dr Angelinah René de Roland and her student Bora Kanoso Alzeid, who is studying for a Master’s degree in Life Sciences, specialising in Biodiversity and the Environment, at the University of Toliara (Madagascar)

These first two degrees are just the beginning. Every year, several students undertake their final-year projects as part of CCC initiatives. This approach reflects a clear commitment to developing scientific projects that serve the purposes of knowledge generation, applied conservation and the training of future experts.

The results of this work will soon be published in international scientific journals, ensuring the wide dissemination of this new knowledge and strengthening its impact beyond the study area. Through these initial successes, CCC reaffirms its commitment to making research a practical tool for conservation, whilst investing sustainably in the human skills that will drive the projects of tomorrow.