Challenges in Madagascar: Improving Food Security, Preserving Biodiversity, and Promoting Democracy
January 18, 2024, 12 noon – 2pm
Dan Turk
Dan Turk has spent nearly 30 years working in Madagascar—an island nation off the coast of East Africa – that has some of the greatest biodiversity in the world but also one of the highest levels of poverty. Once covered mostly in forests, Madagascar has few pockets of native trees remaining, one of which is in the Ranomafana National Park where Dan did his doctoral research.
Part of that research resulted in the Ranomafana Arboretum, founded in 2007 to provide educational opportunities for learning about many of Madagascar’s famous and amazing trees as well as fruit trees that can contribute to improving food security. Dan and his Malagasy colleagues propagate native trees of exceptional educational value for planting at schools, churches, and other public places to increase appreciation of Madagascar’s rich biodiversity. Alongside his environmental work, Dan focuses on helping low-income farmers grow fruit trees to get on a path out of poverty.
For the past 26 years as a Mission Co-worker of the Presbyterian Church (USA), he has partnered with the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM). He helped establish the FJKM’s Fruits, Vegetables, and Environmental Education program, which has set up 6 fruit centers and provides internships for university students and training for seminary students, church pastors and members, and farmers who learn to grow and graft fruit trees to improve their food security and income.
During Madagascar’s crises of 2002 and 2009, Dan documented human rights abuses and communicated with the US State Department and international human rights organizations. From these experiences and others, he has a unique perspective on U.S. policy towards Madagascar.
An avid botanist, Dan has named three new species. He has co-authored several academic journal articles and is currently preparing “A Guide to Trees of Ranomafana National Park” for publication. His work has been recognized by colleagues who have named plants after him; he has received the William Gibson Eco-Justice lifetime achievement award in 2006 and the Chevalier de l’Ordre National de Madagascar in 2014.
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Location: SFCC Board Room (#223) is in the West Wing (Administration building). The college is located at 6401 Richards Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87508. Enter through the building’s main entrance (on the left side of the building behind the flag poles). The Board Room is on the corridor to the left of the Campus Center.
Directions: From Rodeo Road turn south onto Richards Avenue. Turn into the campus main drive. Parking lots are in front of the building. From I-25 take the Cerrillos Road exit, turn east onto Governor Miles Road and then right onto Richards Avenue. Then follow directions above.
The Speaker
Part of that research resulted in the Ranomafana Arboretum, founded in 2007 to provide educational opportunities for learning about many of Madagascar’s famous and amazing trees as well as fruit trees that can contribute to improving food security. Dan and his Malagasy colleagues propagate native trees of exceptional educational value for planting at schools, churches, and other public places to increase appreciation of Madagascar’s rich biodiversity. Alongside his environmental work, Dan focuses on helping low-income farmers grow fruit trees to get on a path out of poverty.
For the past 26 years as a Mission Co-worker of the Presbyterian Church (USA), he has partnered with the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM). He helped establish the FJKM’s Fruits, Vegetables, and Environmental Education program, which has set up 6 fruit centers and provides internships for university students and training for seminary students, church pastors and members, and farmers who learn to grow and graft fruit trees to improve their food security and income.
During Madagascar’s crises of 2002 and 2009, Dan documented human rights abuses and communicated with the US State Department and international human rights organizations. From these experiences and others, he has a unique perspective on U.S. policy towards Madagascar.
An avid botanist, Dan has named three new species. He has co-authored several academic journal articles and is currently preparing “A Guide to Trees of Ranomafana National Park” for publication. His work has been recognized by colleagues who have named plants after him; he has received the William Gibson Eco-Justice lifetime achievement award in 2006 and the Chevalier de l’Ordre National de Madagascar in 2014.
