About CVB
Centre ValBio (CVB) was created to help both local people and the international community better understand the value of conservation in Madagascar and around the world through research, training, and education. We encourage responsible use of natural resources in order to promote sustainable development in Madagascar.
Prior to the establishment of CVB, the economic survival of rural communities in the area was based almost exclusively on the overuse of natural resources. A core mission of CVB is to reduce poverty in the area and encourage environmental conservation while simultaneously promoting ecologically and economically sustainable development programs.
Located near the eastern rainforest corridor of the province of Fianarantsoa, CVB is situated very close to Ranomafana National Park, which was established in 1991 as a direct result of the rediscovery of the greater bamboo lemur by Dr. Patricia C. Wright. In addition to the conservation of the habitat of this critically-endangered lemur, CVB supports local producers of medicinal plants and essential oils, reforestation, weaving cooperatives, conservation clubs, and ecotourism, to name but a few projects.
| 1986-1997 | Research cabins and tents erected within Ranomafana National Park for behavior ecology and taxonomy research of lemurs, reptiles and amphibians, snails, birds, and small mammals |
| 1988 | Initiation of mobile health team to visit 18 villages around the proposed national park |
| 1991 | 43,500 hectares of rainforest protected as Ranomafana National Park |
| 1993 | Initiation of the SBU Fall Semester Study Abroad |
| 1994 | Initiation of Conservation Education Team |
| 2000 | Purchase of land by MICET and signing of 99-year lease with Research Foundation, SBU |
| 2001-2003 | First phase of construction of campus: entrance reception, guard house, drive- way, outdoor classroom pavilion and LovaBe Hall, which houses the dining hall, administrative offices, showers and toilets, and a small research laboratory |
| 2002-2007 | Norman and Lucile Packard grant: Integrating Dynamics of Human Resource Use and their effects on Rainforests in Madagascar: Linking Landscape Ecology, Cultural Anthropology, Behavioral ecology, and Applied Mathematics for a Science-Based Strategy against Deforestation in Madagascar |
| 2003 | Creation of Centre de Valorization de Biodiversite (CVB) with founders: Stony Brook University, University of Helsinki, University of Antananarivo, and University of Fianarantsoa, approved under the Institute of the Conservation of Tropical Environments Accord de Siege with the Madagascar Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| 2003 | SBU Fall Semester Abroad hosted at CVB; continued every year 2003-2018 |
| 2006 | University of Finland RESPECT study abroad hosted at CVB |
| 2007 | Ranomafana National Park, part of a rainforest network of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 2007-2010 National Science Foundation-BCS grant Losing the edge: Senescence schedules and longevity in Malagasy rainforest primates |
| 2010 | Initiative to broaden health science and outreach in Ranomafana region |
| 2010 | First SBU Summer Study Abroad program held and continued every summer |
| 2010-2017 | Tropical Ecological Assessment and Monitoring in Ranomafana National Park Conservation International grant |
| 2012 | Opening of NamanaBe Hall with reception, conference room (seats 100), dormitories (48 beds), molecular and infectious disease laboratories, audio- visual office, computer room/library, and balconies |
| 2013 | CVB hosted the International Prosimian Congress. (150+ participants) |
| 2013-2017 | Participatory Ecological Monitoring Conservation International grant |
| 2014-Present | Interface of Wildlife and Human Disease Project, funded by Herrnstein Family Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Marcus Foundation, Woodruff Foundation |
| 2014 | Creation of PIVOT, a US health NGO focused on health system strengthening in the region of Ifanadiana; CVB is partners with PIVOT |
| 2015 | Inauguration of Radio Studio in NamanaBe Hall and creation of Environmental Arts program |
| 2016 | Renovation of stainless steel kitchen and expansion of dining hall in LovaBe Hall |
| 2016 | Beginning of participatory science programs in remote 4th grade schools - My Rainforest, My World project, funded by the Three Graces Foundation |
| 2016-Present | Inauguration of SBU Winter Session Experiential Learning Internships |
| 2016 | Hosted the International Reptile and Amphibian Congress |
| 2016-2019 | GHI-SBU Drone Observed Therapy System, a medical delivery drone program, used to treat Tuberculosis in remote communities |
| 2016-2019 | Partnership with Catholic Relief Services for Reforestation with endemic trees east of RNP and vanilla and wild pepper underneath the trees |
| 2017 | SBU remote health team doubled and expanded to more villages |
| 2017-2020 | Launching of Belocal Group, a sustainable engineering NGO bringing together engineers, designers, and creatives to work with local stakeholders in crowdsourcing solutions to challenges faced in resource restricted environments |
| 2018 | Hosted International Lepidopteran Congress |
| 2018 | Hosted the Crucible, a science forum for innovation in health, genetics, infectious disease, and environmental science |
| 2020 | Completion of SOS IUCN Biodiversity Center |