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Centre ValBio
Hands-on science to sustain Madagascar's resources and people

cvb

Centre ValBio

Centre ValBio (CVB) is an internationally renowned research station dedicated to conserving Madagascar’s unique and biologically rich ecosystems. Located on the edge of  Ranomafana National Park, CVB operates under the leadership of acclaimed primatologist Dr. Patricia C. Wright. Through cutting-edge conservation science and community-based projects, CVB works in close partnership with local communities to protect biodiversity while improving livelihoods. By combining research, education, and sustainable development, Centre ValBio is expanding scientific understanding and helping to ensure that Madagascar’s natural heritage is preserved for generations to come.   Learn More About Centre ValBio

Dr. Patricia Wright

About Dr. Patricia C. Wright

Dr. Wright is a scientist and a distinguished professor in the Department of Anthropology at Stony Brook University, NY. She is the inaugural holder of Herrnstein Professor of Conservation Biology Chair. Dr. Wright has received the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship (Genius Award) and various medals of honor from the Malagasy government. She was the first woman to win the Indianapolis Prize for Animal Conservation (equivalent to the Nobel Prize in Conservation). Dr. Wright is Founder and Executive Director of Stony Brook University's Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments, and is the Founder and Executive Director of the Centre ValBio, a research and training center in Ranomafana, Madagascar.  After discovering a new species of lemur in 1986, she helped establish its habitat as a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Dr. Patricia C. Wright has published over 200 scientific papers, authored four books, and delivered hundreds of lectures at museums, universities, and scientific societies across the United States and Europe. A dedicated mentor, she has guided and hooded over 50 PhDs, many of whom are now leaders in conservation and primatology. The International Primatological Society awarded her the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 meetings in Madagascar. 

Dr. Wright's research and accomplishments have been featured in the 2014 award winning documentary IMAX/Warner Brothers film Island of Lemurs: Madagascar narrated by Morgan Freeman.  In 2023, she led a team of young scientists on a bold 30-day expedition to a remote forest previously unknown to the global scientific community. Accompanied by a French film crew, the team ventured into uncharted territory, documenting rare and previously undescribed plants and animals. The documentary Ivohiboro: The Lost Forest, released in 2024, is a film that captures a journey into the unknown, where scientists uncover new species that shed light on the past while providing crucial insights into protecting and restoring these vital landscapes for the future.

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Research 

Whether you are just starting your studies, are a master's or doctoral student, or established in your field, CVB has the facilities and expertise to make your research ambitions a reality. As a full-service research center, you will find that our friendly and experienced staff and excellent facilities are able to accommodate any laboratory- or field-based research needs.
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Study Abroad 

Do you have a passion for tropical biology (including lemurs), conservation, the environment, human health, engineering, or the social sciences? No matter what, we've got you covered. Regardless of your background or existing knowledge, our Study Abroad programs offer a huge range of opportunities. Programs range in length from from three weeks to three months.
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Internships and Volunteering

From high school graduates interested in valuable real-world experience before college, to working professionals looking to take a career break doing something meaningful, or retirees keen for their next challenge, conservation work welcomes people from all walks of life. We gladly welcome volunteers to join us at CVB in tailored programs.
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Over  1,000

Publications

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99%

Malagasy staff

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Certificate

55

PhDs

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Microscope

Over 300

Master's theses

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Trees

Biodiversity Conservation & Restoration

CVB's core mission is to ensure the long-term survival of  Ranomafana National Park, and other ecosystems across the tropics, so that future generations can enjoy and benefit from them. Through both our work on the ground and also our international collaborations, we have made great advances in research and applied science, shedding light on exciting new ways of conserving our world.

 

Biodiversity Conservation & RestorationCVB's core mission is to ensure the long-term survival of  Ranomafana National Park, and other ecosystems across the tropics, so that future generations can enjoy and benefit from them. Through both our work on the ground and also our international collaborations, we have made great advances in research and applied science, shedding light on exciting new ways of conserving our world.  ... Learn More
CEWIT

Health

CVB is committed to providing quality healthcare access to the remote villages that surround Ranomafana National Park. In 2004 we revived the Health Team created in 1989 by Lon Kightlinger, sending healthcare professionals to deliver much-needed support directly to the people.  The Team provides first-line intervention throughout the region, and in many cases they are the only accessible healthcare service.
HealthCVB is committed to providing quality healthcare access to the remote villages that surround Ranomafana National Park. In 2004 we revived the Health Team created in 1989 by Lon Kightlinger, sending healthcare professionals to deliver much-needed support directly to the people.  The Team provides first-line intervention throughout the region, and in many cases they are the only accessible healthcare service.... Learn More
Essential Oil Production

Economics

CVB's economic outreach activities, active since 2004, aim to refine business skills in local communities while helping to establish new, independent economic engines for the region. Currently 12 villages take part in the program. Initiatives include women's weaving cooperatives, traditional essential oil producers, and spice growers who plant endemic trees to aid with reforestation.
EconomicsCVB's economic outreach activities, active since 2004, aim to refine business skills in local communities while helping to establish new, independent economic engines for the region. Currently 12 villages take part in the program. Initiatives include women's weaving cooperatives, traditional essential oil producers, and spice growers who plant endemic trees to aid with reforestation.... Learn More
CVB Conservation Education Program

Education

CVB has made the education of Madagascar's youth a priority since 2004, when it launched the Child and Tree Fund. Since then, CVB's Education Department has developed a number of programs targeting high school-aged people around the Ranomafana National Park.  For instance, the Madaworks program provides scholarships to women who would otherwise have to leave full-time education.  Additionally, all researchers and Study Abroad groups must support a Malagasy student in order to develop local research capabilities .

 

EducationCVB has made the education of Madagascar's youth a priority since 2004, when it launched the Child and Tree Fund. Since then, CVB's Education Department has developed a number of programs targeting high school-aged people around the Ranomafana National Park.  For instance, the Madaworks program provides scholarships to women who would otherwise have to leave full-time education.  Additionally, all researchers and Study Abroad groups must support a Malagasy student in order to develop local research capabilities . ... Learn More

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Visiting Centre ValBio

“I never thought such advanced facilities could exist in a rainforest. I could not have completed my research anywhere else."

Perched on the edge of a waterfall, overlooking the Ranomafana Rainforest, Centre ValBio offers unique, direct access to a biological hotspot for research, while housing on-site laboratory facilities for genetics, disease, ecology, biology, and technology research.

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