page_title: Beza Mahafaly Reserve
section_title: Education and training
hierarchical_section_title: Beza Mahafaly Reserve / Education and training
caption_attribution_description: Propithecus verreauxi Italiano: Sifaka di Verreaux - Riserva speciale di Bezaha Mahafaly
context_page_description: The Beza Mahafaly Reserve is a nature reserve in Madagascar 35 kilometres northeast of Betioky Sud. The reserve also provides training and research opportunities. It consists of a fenced gallery forest, approximately 100 hectares, separated by 8 kilometres from a 520-hectare gallery of arid spiny forest. The reserve has a museum that is open to tourists.
  Tree species featured in the two galleries include tamarind trees and Madagascar ocotillo, among many others. Animals residing in the galleries include four species of lemurs, four species of tenrecs, 17 species of saurians, 12 species of snakes, two species of tortoises and, in season, the Nile crocodile. There are over 100 species of birds.
context_section_description: Beza Mahafaly hosts an annual field school run by ESSA-Forêts, where 15-20 fifth-year students gain practical experience of conservation techniques in a 10-day course. The students undertake a combination of seminars, fieldwork, and independent projects. Field-based courses are offered to student groups from international institutions.
  Other group workshops, outreach events, and training courses targeted at local school children, adults living in nearby, university students, teachers, and government officials take place each year.
caption: Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi).
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