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MADAGASCAR
FAUNA GROUP
BYLAWS
Revised
1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREAMBLE
ARTICLE
I Name
ARTICLE
II Purpose
2.1 General Purpose
2.2 Areas of Interest
ARTICLE
III Project Participants
3.1 Participants
3.2 Obligations
3.3 Limitations
3.4 Collaborating Institutions
ARTICLE
IV Representation and Governance
4.1 Representatives
4.2 Steering Committee
4.3 Official Relationships
ARTICLE
V Chairman
5.1 Duties
5.2 Powers
5.3 Votes of Confidence
ARTICLE
VI Budget
6.1 Budget
6.2 Annual Report
6.3 Excess Funds
ARTICLE
VII Ownership of Animals
7.1 Ownership
7.2 Receipt
ARTICLE
VIII Withdrawal
8.1 Manner
8.2 Penalty
ARTICLE
IX Amendment
ARTICLE
X Termination
10.1 Event of Termination
10.2 Conclusion of Group Affairs
10.3 Distribution of Group Penalty
The Madagascar Fauna Group
PREAMBLE
The
wildlife of Madagascar clearly represents many of the world's
most unique and gravely endangered species. In-country and out-of-country
propagating reservoirs of a broad range of vanishing species,
as recommended by the specialist groups of the SSC/IUCN and Madagascar
authorities appear necessary to secure the future of certain species.
Several
concerned zoological and conservation institutions seeking to
assist the preservation of Madagascar's endangered fauna desire
to establish secure breeding populations of certain species inside
and outside of Madagascar. This group, following upon the St.
Catherine's Island accord of 1987, seeks to help by providing
training, materials, funds and expertise to Madagascar authorities.
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises of obligations
contained herein, the undersigned hereby establish and agree to
be bound by these Articles of the Madagascar Fauna Group.
ARTICLES
OF THE GROUP
ARTICLE I
Name
The
organization shall be called Madagascar Fauna Group (MFG).
ARTICLE II
Purpose
2.1
General Purpose The Madagascar Fauna Group will be organized to
help all classes of Madagascar fauna, particularly those species
whose populations and numbers appear to be falling below the minimums
considered viable by conservation biologists and national authorities.
The MFG will provide materials, funds, expertise and particularly
training to Madagascar to jointly enhance captive propagation
and reintroduction programs.
2.2
Areas of Interest In furtherance of the purpose of the MFG, below
are listed examples of the kinds of projects the Group will undertake
as determined by the Steering Committee.
a.
Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza
Assistance
with education programs, training in zoo management both within
and outside the country, and capital improvements for projects
which would advance the well-being of the zoo's animal collection
and the purpose of the MFG.
b. Parc Zoologique Ivoloina
Assistance
with education programs, training in zoo management both within
and outside the country, and capital improvements for projects
which would advance the well-being of the zoo's animal collection
and the purpose of the MFG.
c.
Captive Propagation
Establishment
of in-country and out-of-country breeding programs for Madagascar
fauna.
d.
Zoo/University Coordination
Support
for linkages in Madagascar between zoo, university and local conservation
efforts. To this end, the MFG will consider ways of supporting
integrated programs between the University of Madagascar, Parc
Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza and Parc Zoologique Ivoloina.
e.
Wildlife Surveys
The
MFG will promote and support wildlife survey and monitoring teams,
and will encourage joint programs with Madagascar's appropriate
authorities, e.g. ANGAP an the Ministry of Water and Forests,
and with outside institutions in support of that effort.
f.
Reintroduction Programs
The
MFG will consult with Malagasy authorities and provide expertise
and support for joint reintroduction programs of species.
g.
Other Programs
With
the advice of Malagasy authorities, the MFG will promote cooperation
of Participants with relevant research studies, conservation education
programs, and environmental actions in Madagascar.
ARTICLE
III
Project Participants
3.1 Participants
a.
MFG Participants ("Members") shall sign and adhere to
the conditions of this agreement as it is amended from time to
time. They shall constitute the Madagascar Fauna Group.
3.2
Obligations Each MFG Participant assumes the following obligations:
a.
Each Participant shall commit to a three-year period and shall
abide by the management policies and decision of the MFG Steering
Committee (See 4.2).
b.
Each Participant shall pay its share of operating budgets as such
are determined by the Steering Committee. Each Participant's share
of the initial, or operating budget shall be due in cash when
determined by the Chairman (See Art. V).
c.
Additional Participants may join the founding institutions as
outlined: Current fully subscribed members of the MFG are designated
as Founders, as are others who may join in the future at the then
current fully subscribed level. Other members joining at lesser
levels shall be designated as Contributors or Supporters.
3.3
Limitations No part of the earnings of the MFG shall inure to
the benefit of any institutional Participant of the MFG or to
its representatives. Notwithstanding the above, employees of MFG
participating organizations may be fairly compensated for such
services as they may render the MFG program upon approval of the
Steering Committee.
3.4
Collaborating Institutions The MFG founding institutions recognize
the existing programs of the Strasbourg University-Parc Zoologique
et Botanique de Mulhouse consortium and Duke University Primate
Center and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and other programs
as may be designated in the future as being within the general
purposes of the MFG. The obligations of these prior programs are
considered appropriate fulfillment of 3.2.a and 3.2.b during their
term, so long as the Madagascar fauna covered in these prior programs
are managed in concert with the aims of the MFG in the best interests
of the species.
ARTICLE
IV
Representation and Governance
4.1
Representatives Each participating institution shall name an Institutional
Representative to the MFG, who will be the institution's contact
for all MFG communications. The Institutional Representatives
of Founder institutions will be further called upon to represent
their institutions on matters requiring a general vote, and may
be called upon to serve on the steering committee. The institutional
representatives of all member institutions as of 1 July 1999 shall
retain the same voting and service rights as representatives of
Founding Institutions.
4.2
Steering Committee
a.
A Steering Committee shall be the executive body of the MFG and
shall conduct the business of the group, including negotiations
and relationships with the Madagascar authorities.
b.
The Steering Committee shall meet at least once annually and will
consider all programs, plans and expenditures. Fifty percent of
the Steering Committee members shall constitute a quorum to conduct
business. The MFG may conduct meetings by conference telephone
and consider information distributed by mail, electronic mail
and FAX. Minutes of this meeting shall be mailed to all institutional
representatives.
c. The following are the charter members of the Steering Committee:
David
Anderson, Chairman
John
Behler
Lee
Durrell
Jean-Marc
Lernould
Elwyn
Simons
George
Rabb
d.
The chairman of the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, Dr.
Ulie Seal, of SSC/IUCN shall serve as an ex-officio voting member
of the Steering Committee.
e.
The terms of the charter members of the Steering Committee are
indefinite. Two additional seats, each with a three-year term,
will exist. The Steering Committee may nominate new members to
these seats or others as necessary due to retirement, removal,
or vacancy. Any such nominations will be voted on by the representatives
of the Founder Institutions.
f.
A Steering Committee member may be removed by a vote of no confidence.
Any institutional representative or Steering Committee member
may petition the Steering Committee for a vote of confidence in
a Steering Committee member. If supported by at least 50% of the
Steering Committee members, a vote of confidence will be held
Committee member. If supported by at least 50% of the Steering
Committee, the vote of confidence will be conducted. If representatives
of two-thirds or more of the voting founder institutions vote
no confidence, the member must step down.
4.3
Official Relationships The Steering Committee will deal with Madagascar
matters as directed by appropriate national and local authorities
of Madagascar. The Committee will deal through its Chairman or
properly appointed delegate(s).
ARTICLE
V
Chairman
5.1
Duties The Chairman shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure
of the Steering Committee. The Chairman shall perform all duties
related to the coordination, implementation and functioning of
the Group's work, both in and outside Madagascar.
5.2
Powers The Chairman will receive and disburse funds in and of
the project in accordance with the agreement and budget. The Chairman
will be delegated by the Steering Committee to exercise all such
granted powers and to act unhindered by the Participants in the
initiation of the project. However, the Chairman will not enter
into any agreements or initiate any projects contrary to the programs
authorized by the MFG or the Steering Committee.
5.3
Votes of Confidence Every three years, the MFG shall conduct a
vote of confidence in the Chairman. Each institutional representative
of a Founder Institution will be allowed one vote. If two-thirds
or more of those voting vote no confidence in the Chairman, he
or she must step down. The Steering Committee will then appoint
a new Chairman. Any Institutional Representative or Steering Committee
member may petition the Steering Committee at any time for a vote
of confidence in the Chairman. If supported by at least 50% of
the Steering Committee, the vote of confidence will be conducted.
ARTICLE
VI
Budget
6.1
Budget The budget will be formulated by the Chairman based upon
projects and plans approved by the Steering Committee. The Chairman
will submit the budget to the Steering Committee for approval
by a majority of its members.
6.2
Annual Report The minutes of the annual steering committee meeting
shall be circulated to each institutional representative and shall
constitute an annual report. The annual report of expenditures
will be included.
6.3
Excess Funds Any funds received and not used in the annual budget
will be placed in an interest-bearing account.
ARTICLE
VII
Ownership of Animals
7.1
Ownership Any animals acquired by the Madagascar Fauna Group through
its accord with the government of Madagascar shall remain the
property of the government of Madagascar. In the event that the
MFG should terminate, such animals as may be within its program
shall be distributed in accordance with wishes of the Madagascar
government and the best interest of each species.
7.2
Receipt Madagascar fauna distributed to Participants for propagation
or study under this agreement will be assigned under the direction
of the MFG Steering Committee and/or through appropriate Taxon
Advisory Groups, Species Survival Plan groups, or their international
equivalents. The conditions being equal, priority will be accorded
to Founder Institutions.
ARTICLE
VIII
Withdrawal
8.1
Manner A Participant may withdraw from the MFG at which time the
Participant forfeits
all its rights and privileges under this agreement and all invested
time, materials, equipment and monies.
8.2
Limitations No participant withdrawing from this Group after acquisition
of live specimens may abrogate any agreement with the Government
of Madagascar with respect to such specimens or its minimum three-year
fiscal contribution to the MFG project.
ARTICLE IX
Amendment
This
agreement may be revised or amended, pursuant to due notice, by
a vote of two-thirds of the Participants and such a vote may he
obtained by registered mail or telephone conference wherein such
a quorum participates.
ARTICLE
X
Termination
10.1
Event of Termination The Group may he terminated at any time upon
the vote of two-thirds of the Participants.
10.2
Conclusion of Group Affairs Upon termination of the MFG, the participants
shall wind up the affairs of the group so as to satisfy or provide
for all obligations of the Group from its available funds.
10.3
Distribution of Group Property After all debts, liabilities and
obligations of the Group shall have been satisfied or provided
for, the Group may distribute the property of the Group, including
any rights to specimens, to a qualified successor organization
consistent with the purposes of the Group.
Madagascar Fauna Group
MEMBERSHIP SIGNATURE PAGE
The undersigned agrees with the Articles herein and hereby joins
those institutions participating in the Madagascar Fauna Group
as a ____________________________.
(Founder, Contributor, Supporter)
__________________________________________________
Signature (Director or CEO)
______________________
Date
_________________________________________________
Name, Title
_________________________________________________
Institution
I
would like to designate __________________________ as our Institutional
Representative and primary contact person.
E-mail
of primary contact: __________________________________________________
Phone
and fax numbers for primary contact: ___________________________________
phone fax
If
you would like more than one person to receive mailings, e-mails
and other information, please add additional name(s) and contact
information below.
Please
return this signature page to:
Ingrid Porton
Madagascar Fauna Group
c/o Saint Louis Zoo
1 Government Road
Saint Louis MO 63110
Dues
levels range from the $10,000 founder level to $1,000 annually. To
learn more about membership levels and opportunities for member
involvement, e-mail the MFG.
And
if you're an individual or small group, click here to learn about
supporting the MFG.
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