Madagascar and Long Island: Two Islands, and one Man's Mission.

Welcome to the Kings Park Patch Focus on Nature. While I usually emphasis our local natural history in my writings, for this article I will be going far-a field. Really far  - to Madagascar!  While the island of Madagascar might not seem relevant to our own Island,

they do in fact share a common bond. That link has been created by the efforts of a dynamic individual, Long Islands own environmental educator Erik Callander.

Madascgar is an incredibly ecologically diverse and unique part of our natural world community. An incredible ninety percent of Madagascar’s plant and animal species are found nowhere else on earth. Conservation International has recognized this vast island

as a biodiversity hotspot. As with so much of our natural world, a number of factors threaten the unique ecology of this region. Deforestation both for agriculture and precious timber are most significant among these challenges. While the Malagasy people are eking a living from lumbering, they do not benefit significantly from the selling of their resources. Instead overseas corporations profit while large segments of the population live in poverty.

Erik Callander is an expert in educating our children and the public in general about the natural beauty of our world. He has visited hundreds of schools, nature centers, libraries, and other venues to tirelessly bring his message of wildlife conservation to as many as possible. But that isn’t enough for this tireless advocate for a healthy planet. For several years Erik has been visiting Madagascar and educating the people there and instilling in them a sense of pride and stewardship in the natural riches represented by the bio diversity of their island. Not only does he visit Madagascar to teach the Malagasy (people of Madagascar) but he has also hosted several programs in which he teaches both Malagasy and American school children simultaneously using Skype. Erik is truly a driven individual. Now, he is promoting the construction of a Nature Center at the Ranomafana Natural Park, in conjunction with his organization, Wildlife Kids Club International www.wkci.org

This new facility with interactive exhibits and classrooms will be used to teach Malagasy people to become stewards of their own environment. Erik Callander recognizes that education is the best way to affect change for the better environmentally. I encourage you

to show your support by attending Erik’s Reptile and Nature presentation at Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown, this Saturday January 25th.  He’s an amazing showman, as well as educator. You can preview his exciting presentation at Erik’s Reptile Edventures website: www.edventureshow.com .

Learn about Erik’s work in Madagascar on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg5_wAfY5c0 Better yet, visit this Saturday at Sweetbriar Nature Center and learn how you can “act locally and Globally” to preserve and enhance our environment! Sweetbriar Nature Center is located at 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown. Erik will be presenting a 12 hour “ Environmental Education Marathon”.

See you on the trails!