international field team:

Martina Petrů, Dr. rer. nat.

Czech-born co-founder of ‘ho avy’ o.s. and New Latitude, and ho avy program co-ordinator. During 2007-8, MP spent 11 months in Madagascar assessing feasibility of restoration and community outreach projects and investigating the spiny forest resilience and regeneration capacity     under selective logging. Currently enthusiastically building prospective collaborations with several academic, conservation and development NGOs already working in Madagascar and abroad.
Previous activities: research projects and expeditions in Nepal, North America, Venezuela, Middle East, South and East Africa and elsewhere.
Interests: world floras and wildlife, nature and wildlife photography, outdoor time, native plant and organic gardening, sustainable lifestyles, and such.
Contact: martina.petru@gmail.com,

Anthony Arnold, BA

native of Michigan, co-founder of both New Latitude and ‘ho avy’ o.s. Anthony is currently a research associate at the University of Michigan with a diverse background in basic and applied research methodologies (zoology, ecosystem ecology) and conservation projects world-wide. AA has 10 months of field experience in Madagascar and is interested conservation, sustainability, renewable energies, smart-environmental friendly technology, etc.
Previous activities: isotope analysis (measuring the impacts of nesting Double Crested Cormorants on island ecosystems in the Great Lakes), research and monitoring for the critically endangered Blue-throated Macaw in Bolivia, USFWS assessment of nesting water-bird colonies in the Great Lakes
Interests: being on or near water.
Contact: arnold.anthony@gmail.com

Clement Landrianjohary, B.Sc.

M.Sc. student at the University of Toliara who has been invaluable to ho avy since February 2008. Interested in social and political sciences, Clement has great aptitude as ho avy’s local interpreter and community relations co-ordinator. Clement and Claude assisted the local village Ranobe to establish their own government-recognized tree planting association FIMPAHARA by facilitating the interactions between FIMPAHARA and regional governmental and non-governmental development and environment organizations.
Contact: landrianjohary@yahoo.fr

Paubert Mahavatse

After getting his science baccalaureate in 2000, Paubert has spent two years to learn English in the Teachers Resources Centre and the Bush English Centre in Mahajanga – NW Madagascar. In 2003, he started studying at the Sciences Department of the Mahajanga University where he got his degree in 2005. The same year, he was certified as LCF (language and cross culture facilitator) from Peace Corps Madagascar. In 2006, after a national selection, he joined the Marine Sciences and Fisheries Institute (IH.SM) of Toliara University, for marine specialization. He got his Bachelor degree in 2008. At present, he is preparing a defense for his DEA degree (equivalent of Master) in Applied Oceanology at the same Institute.
Paubert experiences as a consultant started in 2006 by doing Social and Environmental Impact Assessments for Mining Company explorations, followed by assessments for Terrestrial and Marine Protected Areas and their identification, Forest resources management transfer, Environmental Education, Capacity Strengthening, and Assessment of local coping strategies of villagers in a Biosphere Reserve in the light of climate change.
During those activities, he has worked with the Coastal and Environmental Service of Grahamstown – South Africa, the Safeguard Environmental Association, Reef Doctor, WWF, WCS, UNESCO, GTZ, MNHN (Muséum National et d’Histoires Naturelles) of Paris, Honko Association, and Ho Avy NGO.
“I serve my country by sharing knowledge and protecting its endemic biodiversity.”

FIMPHARA Ranobe

community association formed in village Ranobe as an association dedicated to propagation and reforestation of native plant species in the Ranobe forest. FIMPAHARA has formed from 18 members (view them here)

international base team:

Karel Chodil

M.Sc. student at the University of South Bohemia in the Czech Republic and co-founder of ‘ho avy’ o.s. KC is interested in world developmental issues and educational, outreach and dynamic team-building activities. He shares his extensive experience in developing and co-ordinating ho avy’s local outreach events in the Czech Republic.
Contact: karel.chodil@seznam.cz

Noel Bielaczyc, BA and Anne Phillips, BFA, both natives of Michigan, Noel is a freelance artist and enthusiastic art teacher who loves the outdoors (bird watching, fishing, cycling), creative cooking and baking, and more. Anne is a talented, energetic and cheerful illustrator and painter (www.anniephillips.net) immersed in myriads of community projects. She created an innovative book for hospitalized teens called The Active Book (more here). Anne and Noel are the creators of our beautiful ho avy logo.
Contact: noel.bielaczyc@gmail.com and annie.phillips@gmail.com

Veronika Dorňáková, Bc.

Veronika is a master student at the University of South Bohemia in the Czech Republic. She studies there molecular biology and parasitology. Last year she stayed in Madagascar for the whole November with the expedition Biriky. She is going to assist with ho avy activities and projects in the Czech Republic.

Mgr. Simona Poláková

She studies Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. She is finishing her PhD. there nowedays as well as she works as a research assistent there. She attends ornithology – both cognitive abilities of birds and their ecology and conservation. She makes surveys of birds in farms in the framework of ecological agriculture in the Czech Republic. She studies distribution of birds and ecology of selected species in Ukok (Altaj, Russia).

In Madagascar within Ho Avy project, she wants to research mechanisms of coevolution between vertebrates and selected species of trees which are threatened by selective mining the most. These information help not only during reforestation but to conservation of fauna, eventually ecoturism too.

Clara Ariza, M.Sc.

Colombian-born funding and scientific assessor for the ho avy program. As a biologist, Clara has worked for over ten years evaluating the effects of desertification and climate change on the biodiversity of tropical and Mediterranean ecosystems. She is currently finalizing her PhD degree at the University of Tübingen, contributing to ho avy's project development and networking and compiling a (worldwide) database of traditional/ ecosystem-based strategies for coping with environmental change.

Previous activities: ecological research projects and expeditions in South America and the Middle East; environmental impact assessments for large engineering development plans; evaluation of innovative climate change adaptation projects for the World Bank.

Interests: Integrating scientific and traditional knowledge in environmental degradation solutions; devising durable livelihood alternatives for populations vulnerable to environmental change; community driven environmental initiatives; sharing experiences, information and ideas.

Contact: clar_is@yahoo.com,

Mgr. Marketa Foldynove

Marketa is studying PhD. degree at the University of South Bohemia and Institute of Microbiology in Trebon. She deals with molecular biology of photosynthesis. Marketa belongs to the team that manages activities of 'ho avy' organization in the Czech Republic.

Previous activities: she participated in organization of International Film Festival Ekofilm for a few years, she also led volunteer group of students who run composting and aluminium collecting at Faculty of Science (University of South Bohemia).

Interests: composting, environment friendly activities.