Biodiversity research has been carried out since 2009 across the Union of the Comoros: studies focused on endemic birds, reptiles, butterflies and mammals (Livingstone fruit bats and Anjouan mongoose lemur). The objective of these studies has been to 1) identify biodiversity conservation priorities for endemic terrestrial vertebrates in the Comoros, and 2) pinpoint to central intervention areas.

• Biodiversity surveys
  Comprehensive surveys on the Anjouan scops owl, the Livingstone’s fruit bat and the Anjouan mongoose lemur have been carried out. All three species are classified as either “Endangered” or “Critically Endangered” by the IUCN. The data collected and analyzed on the distribution and the populations of these species are vital for their protection.
• GPS Tracking – In collaboration with the University of Comoros, two individual Livingstone’s fruit bats were tagged with GPS trackers and their movements recorded throughout 2019. The data were used to identify important landscape features such as feeding sites, for this species.
• Monitoring of the Livingstone’s fruit bat population
  Since 2016 Anjouan’s Livingstone’s fruit bat population has been monitored bi-annualy. In both the wet and the dry seasonall individuals are counted in their roosting sites with the aim ofbuilding a long-term data set on population size.
• Co-management of the Livingstone’s fruit bat roosting sites
  In order to protect critical roost sites of this species, Dahari launched a programme based on a Payment for Ecosystem Services scheme which requires landowners to refrain from cutingt down the trees at the roost site and to restore the forests on their plots in exchange for agricultural support and training.
• Participatory Biodiversity Monitoring – Members of local communities are involved in monitoring indicators for species and habitat threats in the Moya forest region. The aim of this project is to raise awareness and a sense of responsibility for sustainable local forest management.