What Planet Madagascar does

Planet Madagascar is a Canadian registered charity (non-for-profit corporation number 947154-5) incorporated in 2015 by primatologist Travis Steffens, based on his PhD research into the effects of forest fragmentation on lemur survival. The organization operates community-based conservation programs in and around Ankarafantsika National Park in northwest Madagascar through an implementing partner, Planet Madagascar Association, with advisory support from the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments (ICTE) in Antananarivo. Its core conservation methods are labor- and community-driven rather than technology-driven: an 18-person local fire management team that cuts firebreaks and records fire instances using handheld GPS, plus a forest restoration program using corridor reforestation between fragmented forest patches and erosion-control tree planting.

The organization's program portfolio spans four areas: conservation (fire management, forest restoration), community development (a women's cooperative for sustainable agroforestry founded in 2017, an elementary school opened in Andranohobaka in 2022 with Seacology funding, and women's health, sanitation, and adult education initiatives), education/communications (Lambas for Lemurs, responsible fire days, films produced with an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, a 2020 COVID-19 radio campaign), and merchandise (limited-edition prints by Malagasy artist Alain Rasolo and Fair Trade-certified handcrafted lemur ornaments produced by artisan group SEPALIM).

Planet Madagascar generates revenue through a diversified non-profit model: individual donations collected via PayPal with project-restricted giving options, symbolic adoptions (Mongoose Lemur $100 CAD, Coquerel's Sifaka $75 CAD, Mouse Lemur $50 CAD, forest hectares at $30 CAD each) delivered digitally with certificates and fact sheets, tiered contributions to the Planet Madagascar Permanent Trust (PMPT) endowment ranging from $25 to $5,000 CAD, e-commerce sales of merchandise, and institutional partnership funding from organizations including the Toronto Zoo, Seacology, and Madagascar National Parks (MNP) under a formal collaboration accord. The organization serves individual conservation donors globally, institutional conservation partners in Canada and Madagascar, and three local Malagasy communities (Maevatanimbary, Andranohobaka, Ambarindahy) as both program participants and employees.

Name

Planet Madagascar

Legal name

Planet Madagascar

Website

https://planetmadagascar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Planet Madagascar is a Canadian registered charity running community-based lemur and forest conservation programs in Madagascar's Ankarafantsika National Park, funded by individual donations, symbolic adoptions, merchandise, and a perpetual endowment trust.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (1132)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD), Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Services (Restoration, Wildlife-Safe Operations) (THAAANAH)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation services
• Forest restoration programs
• Community development initiatives
• Endangered species protection
• Conservation education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Canada (headquarters location not specified)

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donations collected through website via PayPal, with funds directed to conservation programs in Madagascar. Donors can specify funding for particular projects.
2. Permanent Trust Endowments: Long-term endowment donations to the Planet Madagascar Permanent Trust (PMPT) designed to provide perpetual funding for sustained operations and future program expansion.
3. Symbolic Adoptions: Lemur and forest adoption programs providing digital adoption certificates and educational materials. Adoptions sold at tiered price points ($30-100 CAD) and recur annually.
4. E-commerce Sales: Sale of handcrafted merchandise including lemur art prints and textiles. Products sourced from local artisan groups like SEPALIM in Madagascar.
5. Partnership Funding: Funding and support from institutional partners including Toronto Zoo for lemur monitoring and women's cooperative programs, and Seacology for school construction.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Planet Madagascar runs community-led conservation, education, and sustainable development programs in Madagascar's Ankarafantsika National Park, including fire management, forest restoration, a women's cooperative, and a school. Its externally facing commercial offerings are symbolic adoptions of lemurs and forest hectares, a permanent trust endowment program, and limited merchandise (lemur art prints and Fair Trade silk ornaments).

Product overview

Planet Madagascar is a Canadian registered charity operating conservation and community development programs in Madagascar. The organization offers a portfolio of adoption-based conservation programs (Adopt a Lemur, Adopt a Forest), an endowment fund (Permanent Trust), educational initiatives (school, educational films, workshops), and merchandise (lemur ornaments, prints). Its core conservation programs include fire management and forest restoration in Ankarafantsika National Park, implemented through a women's cooperative and community employment. Planet Madagascar does not offer a software product or SaaS platform—the website serves as a donation and program information portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Planet Madagascar Permanent Trust (PMPT): A long-term perpetual funding initiative aiming to raise $3 million CAD to sustain organizational programs and enable expansion.

Products and services

• Adopt a Lemur Program A symbolic adoption program for individual donors supporting endangered lemur species (Mongoose Lemur at $100 CAD, Coquerel's Sifaka at $75 CAD, Mouse Lemur at $50 CAD), delivered annually with a personalized adoption certificate, lemur fact sheet, and high-quality photo.
• Adopt a Forest Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 18 local residents employed as fire management team
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• SeacologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership to build Andranohobaka School opened in 2022. Seacology provided funding and support for school construction in the village situated within Ankarafantsika National Park.
• Toronto ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerToronto Zoo is one of Canada's leaders in protecting endangered species. Committed to help Planet Madagascar conserve endangered lemur species through investment in lemur monitoring program and sustainable agriculture-based women's cooperative.
• Madagascar National Parks (MNP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanet Madagascar runs all projects in Ankarafantsika National Park with formal collaboration accord. MNP provides staff support and permits for conservation operations.
• Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments (ICTE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Antananarivo, ICTE provides advisory support for project design and implementation, plus technical support to implementing partner Planet Madagascar Association.
• Seed MadagascarmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK charity with mission to enhance capacity of individuals, communities, and organizations for sustainable development and conservation in southeast Madagascar. Goals align closely with Planet Madagascar's mission.
• Lemur Conservation Network (LCN)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLCN facilitates network of over 60 conservation organizations working in Madagascar, providing communications, education, and empowerment support for Malagasy organizations.
• Community members of Maevatanimbary, Andranohobaka, and AmbarindahycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore community conservation partners implementing all projects. Community members employed for fire management patrol team, forest restoration, agroforestry cooperative, firebreak maintenance, seed collection, tree nurseries, and seedling planting.
• SEPALIMmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPoverty alleviation organization in northeastern Madagascar. Artisan group produces handcrafted lemur ornaments using sustainable Madagascar wild cocoon silk and raffia. 100% of Tanana Silk profits return to Planet Madagascar team in Madagascar.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust: International conservation charity with deep Madagascar operations including training programs and species recovery. Highly comparable as a similarly-sized NGO doing community-based conservation and species protection in Madagascar, with a comparable donor-supported revenue model.
• The Dr. Abigail Ross Foundation for Applied Conservation (TDARFAC): Founded by Planet Madagascar board member Dr. Abby Ross, this primatology-focused conservation foundation is highly comparable as a small, scientist-led conservation nonprofit working on lemur research and applied conservation.
• SEED Madagascar: UK charity enhancing capacity of individuals, communities, and organizations for sustainable development and conservation in southeast Madagascar. Listed as a direct Planet Madagascar partner with closely aligned mission — making it a directly comparable peer in the same NGO category.
• Blue Ventures: Conservation organization working with coastal communities in Madagascar on marine and terrestrial conservation. Comparable as a similarly-sized NGO using community-led approaches and digital donor engagement in Madagascar.

Broad incumbents

• Wildlife Conservation Society: Large international conservation organization with active Madagascar programs at multiple national parks including Ankarafantsika-adjacent areas. Comparable as a peer operating in the same forests and lemur habitat but at much larger scale with broader global footprint.
• Conservation International: Global conservation NGO operating Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund programs referenced in Planet Madagascar's leadership training. Operates significant Madagascar biodiversity programs and competes for the same institutional donor pool.
• Fauna & Flora International: International conservation charity with active lemur and Madagascar forest programs. Comparable donor-supported model with similar community-partnership approach but larger global footprint and institutional funding base.
• WWF Madagascar: World Wildlife Fund's Madagascar country program is one of the largest conservation operators in the same forest ecosystems. Competes for corporate and institutional conservation funding aimed at Madagascar biodiversity.

Regional players

• Madagascar National Parks (MNP / ANGAP): Government-affiliated agency managing Madagascar's national park system, including Ankarafantsika where Planet Madagascar operates. Formal partner of Planet Madagascar and effectively the landlord/permit issuer for its core operations.

Others

• Lemur Conservation Network: Network of over 60 Madagascar conservation organizations that provides communications and education support to its members, including Planet Madagascar. Functions as an ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor, but represents the broader competitive donor landscape.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/planetmadagascar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Planet Madagascar