Meet the conservationist: Dr. Amelaid follows in the footsteps of his childhood hero

Amelaïd Houmadi grew up on an island in the Comoros. At his parental house, nestled at the foot of a mountain range where birds sang at sunrise and rivers flowed, his love for nature began. Today, Dr. Amelaïd has founded the Comoros Environmental Research Office (Bureau d’Etudes Environnementale des Comore – BEE Comores), one of the CEPF grantees in Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands Hotspot. He is following in the footsteps of his childhood hero. ‘My new dream is to evolve the conservation efforts from research to action to better protect nature on these islands,’ he shares with us.

Header photo: Amelaïd Houmadi in the Mount Ntringui National Park in Anjouan, monitoring the spread of Dicranopteris linearis to better target priority restoration areas. All photos in this article © BEE Comores

Fishing by the coral reefs

During his youth in Mirontsy, a coastal town on the island of Anjouan, nature was part of Dr. Amelaïd’s daily life. ‘From the moment I started at the Koranic school, we had to help the teacher in the fields and find pasture for her goats. That is how I learned about useful plants and farming activities. On Thursdays and Fridays, when the school was closed, we went fishing by the coral reefs. In the afternoon we played in the sea: swimming, looking for shells, diving… At low tide, we played ball at the beach.’

He did not spend his free time only playing. The young Houmadi also helped his family tend the fields, where they cultivated peanuts, beans, cassava, and pigeon peas. All these experiences would later influence his career choices, but there was something else that first inspired his future.

The Jamy Gourmaud of the Comoros

In the 1990s, television had just arrived in the Comoros. Dr. Houmadi’s favourite show was C’est pas sorcier (It’s not rocket science)by Jamy Gourmaud and Frédéric Courant. ‘This show touched my heart deeply as I listened to scientific facts that I did not learn at school, since we no longer had laboratories or conducted scientific experiments. I dreamed of one day becoming the Jamy Gourmaud of the Comoros.’ His dream soon became a reality: ‘After my studies, I conducted fieldwork in the Ranomafana Forest in Madagascar, just like Jamy Gourmaud.’

‘After more than 15 years working with various associations and NGOs, I decided to set up an organisation that could continue to exist and serve others after I am gone.’

In the following years, Dr. Amelaïd worked at different NGOs, including at WWF Madagascar and environmental organisations in the Comoros. ‘After more than 15 years of experience working with various associations and NGOs, I decided to set up an organisation that would continue to exist and serve others after I am gone.’ In 2023, BEE Comores was created. The organisation focusses research, biodiversity conservation, and promoting a green and blue economy for a resilient and sustainable future. Working with the communities on the islands is central to their approach.

A biodiversity hotspot

The archipelago of the Comoros is a biodiversity hotspot. Unfortunately, as in many biologically-rich regions, its ecosystems are increasingly under threat. ‘In Anjouan, and especially in Shisiwani and Mount Ntringui national parks, the main threats to nature are linked to three major pressures: invasive alien species, deforestation and nature degradation caused by people, and the weakening of native and endemic species, especially trees. It has been shown that at least ten native and endemic tree species are at critical risk of extinction, indicating habitat degradation and biodiversity loss.’ Dr. Amelaïd explains.

‘Participatory management strategies engage local stakeholders at every stage. The project involved a strong collaboration with the park teams, town halls, village chiefs, and the village co-management committees.’

Engaging local stakeholders

BEE Comores received a CEPF grant to asses the health of natural habitats on Anjouan. The team also proposed participatory management strategies for the protection and conservation of endemic biodiversity and ecosystems. ‘This means engaging local stakeholders at every stage,’ states the conservationist. ‘The project involved a strong collaboration with the park teams, town halls, village chiefs, and the village co-management committees. We focused on information and participation by organising meetings, presenting results, and increasing awareness among villagers and community leaders.’

From research to action

Some practical challenges came up during the project, such as planning issues due to weather conditions and the fluctuating availability of students. According to Dr. Amelaïd, the main issue is, however, how to ensure follow-up funding. ‘The project supported by the CEPF provided us with concrete tools for conservation action in the Mont Ntringui and Shisiwani National Parks. With the list of priority invasive species, the mapping of degraded areas, and the strategic document, we now have a solid basis for planning restoration and management actions in the parks. The next step is taking action on the ground.’

Throughout the years, Dr. Amelaïd followed in the footsteps of his childhood hero Jamy Gourmaud. But when nature is disappearing at a rapid, scientific facts are no longer enough. ‘My new dream is to evolve the conservation efforts from research to action to better protect nature on these islands,’ he concludes.