GISCorps Volunteer assists Lemur Conservation Foundation with their GIS needs

The Protected Area Management (PAM) initiative is a partnership between the National Geographic Society, Esri, GISCorps. This initiative seeks to facilitate and support the effective use of Esri’s ArcGIS Solutions for Conservation, which has been made available at no cost to protected areas throughout Africa through a partnership between Esri and the National Geographic Society. ArcGIS Solutions for Conservation provides protected area managers with a secure suite of configurable technology for better managing and protecting parks and sensitive conservation areas.

The Lemur Conservation Foundation (LCF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Madagascar’s unique primates through captive breeding, scientific research, environmental education, and community engagement. LCF collaborates closely with protected areas in Madagascar, including Marojejy National Park, one of the most biodiverse sites in the country and a critical habitat for the critically endangered silky sifaka (Propithecus candidus). Marojejy’s rugged, rainforest-covered mountains present significant challenges for fieldwork, including limited cellular reception, dense vegetation, and difficult terrain, making reliable offline-capable mobile GIS tools essential for effective monitoring.

Robert Hofstede, a GISCorps volunteer from the Netherlands, was recruited for this project in mid 2025 and traveled to Madagascar between November 1-10. The following report reflects the results of Robert’s efforts and invaluable service that he provided to LCF.

Needs and Goals

LCF has been leveraging ArcGIS Online for various conservation tasks, including wildlife management, threat mapping, and patrol monitoring, often using tools like Survey123. However, the team sought to strengthen their capabilities in mobile field data collection, particularly in offline environments. The primary goal of this engagement was to provide hands-on training on ArcGIS Field Maps, customize applications for LCF’s specific conservation needs (lemur observations and forest disturbance tracking), test the solution in real-world conditions at Marojejy National Park, and ensure the team could independently maintain and expand these workflows. Additional aims included troubleshooting common issues, demonstrating offline synchronization, and creating simple visualization tools to support data-driven decision-making.

The Work

Two-Day Training Course at the LCF Office

The training began with a comprehensive two-day workshop at the LCF office, focused entirely on ArcGIS Field Maps – the mobile application designed for field data collection, map viewing, and asset management even in disconnected settings.

Day 1: Fundamentals and Customization: The session introduced participants to the basic setup of ArcGIS Field Maps, including account configuration, map creation in ArcGIS Online, and layer management. Emphasis was placed on designing effective forms for conservation data.

Participants created two dedicated hosted feature layers:

• One for lemur observations, with fields for species (including silky sifaka), group size, behaviour, location accuracy, and photo attachments.
• One for forest disturbances, capturing types (e.g., illegal logging, fire, invasive species), extent, severity, and evidence photos.

Form customization included conditional visibility, required fields, domains for standardized entries, and integration of photo attachments to document evidence visually. Hands-on exercises ensured every participant could build, publish, and deploy a map package for mobile use.

Day 2: Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Offline Functionality: The second day shifted to long-term maintenance: updating maps and forms, managing data quality, and handling synchronization. Special attention was given to offline workflows, as Marojejy National Park has almost no cellular reception. Participants practiced downloading map areas, collecting data offline, and syncing when connectivity returned. Troubleshooting covered common issues such as GPS drift in dense canopy, battery management in humid conditions, and form validation errors.

Three-Day Field Testing in Marojejy National Park

Following the office training, the team spent three full days applying ArcGIS Field Maps in Marojejy National Park’s challenging rainforest environment.

• Real-world data collection focused on lemur sightings (with multiple silky sifaka observations recorded) and forest disturbances (e.g., signs of selective logging and natural tree falls). Photo attachments documented each entry.
• Offline functionality was rigorously tested: maps were downloaded in advance, data collected without connectivity, and synchronized upon returning to areas with signal.
• GPS accuracy was evaluated under dense canopy and steep terrain; photo capture and form usability were assessed in wet, muddy conditions.

The field tests confirmed the robustness of Field Maps in remote, low-connectivity settings and highlighted practical lessons on device handling and data entry efficiency.

Post-Field Evaluation and Refinement

Back at the LCF office, the team conducted a thorough review of the collected data:

• Accuracy checks verified locations, attribute completeness, and photo linkages.
• Group discussions identified challenges (e.g., occasional GPS drift in canopy, form length in the field) and corresponding solutions (e.g., simplified forms, pre-defined domains).
• Minor adjustments were made to form capabilities, such as adding quick-pick lists and improving photo naming conventions.
• A basic dashboard was created in ArcGIS Online to visualize results—displaying maps of lemur sightings, disturbance hotspots, and summary statistics. This provided an immediate, interactive overview of the collected data and demonstrated the value of centralized visualization for reporting and planning.

Outcomes and Impact

The activities successfully equipped the LCF team with practical, hands-on skills to deploy and maintain ArcGIS Field Maps independently. The customized layers for lemur observations and forest disturbances are now ready for routine use by park monitors and researchers. Offline capabilities were proven effective in Marojejy’s reception-free zones, enabling reliable data collection where it is most needed. The basic dashboard offers a foundation for ongoing monitoring and reporting, and the team gained confidence in troubleshooting and adapting the system.

These enhancements will improve the accuracy and timeliness of conservation data, supporting better protection of silky sifaka populations and habitat integrity in Marojejy National Park. The engagement aligns with the PAM initiative’s mission to build sustainable GIS capacity in protected areas.

Conclusion

This effort has strengthened LCF’s ability to collect high-quality field data in one of Madagascar’s most important lemur habitats. The team is now well-prepared to expand mobile GIS workflows, integrate additional tools, and contribute more effectively to lemur conservation. Gratitude goes to the LCF staff for their enthusiasm and commitment throughout the training and field testing.

Project Completed