# @thetorontozoo on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DLNxKciv_ey
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/31679405-thetorontozoo-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/fa8bfc101f.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-06-22T19:39:45.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Toronto Zoo (@thetorontozoo) — https://gondola.cc/thetorontozoo

## Caption

For one of our zoogreenhouse team members who is in Madagascar currently, the research he did beforehand had him seeing many papers discussing “pioneer species” - plants that are early to root and can survive challenging landscapes. 

In working with your Zoo’s partners at Planet Madagascar, Zoo Horticulturalist Ben Martin walked their team through what they should think of when forest comes to mind: Forests are built over time - any one tree is not the goal, and just as in life, their death in the forest is important too. The roots loosen soil, the leaves and bark fertilize the ground, the seeds set up the next generation, and the standing dead tree becomes habitats for birds and small primates here, who in moving through the landscape can add far-away seeds to the soil in their feces which diversifies the plant species while steadily adding more fertility to the soil 🌳

As we talk this through, a concept begins to emerge - instead of planting all the forest where we want it, we need to put our thumb on the scale and accelerate the growth in the leading edges of forest, densifying the grassland with pioneer species while planting out shade-loving, slower-growing trees in the forest edge to give them a fighting chance to establish. While it may take longer, using each seedling to the best of its’ ability helps the program significantly - right plant, right place, right time. As we strive to protect lemur species in-situ, Your Toronto Zoo is excited to see our partners find actionable ideas that don’t break the bank but give this reforesting program the fighting chance it sorely needs. 

After another day of research in Madagascar, we head back to the car and take the long drive back to the Ankarafantsika National Park where we are staying. As we celebrate over dinner, a group of the coquerel’s sifaka visits us at the restaurant - a very real reminder of what all this work is for 🐒 #WorldRainforestDay

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## Tags

worldrainforestday

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