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July / August 2014

The third training workshop for the para-ecologists of the Future Okavango project is taking place in Mashare, Rundu / Namibia from 28th of July to 8th of August 2014. The main topic of this training is how to share scientific results of the Future Okavango project with local stakeholders. Participants (from left to right): Vilho Snake Mtuleni (Namibia), Bettina Koelle (South Africa), Meshack Kwamovo (Botswana), Ute Schmiedel (Germany), Miguel Hilario (Angola), Robert Mukuya (Namibia).

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February 2014

Training school on involvement of para-ecologists into dryland restoration and research
held in Hamburg in February 2014

A training school on Participation Driven Science in Ecology and Hydrology: Implementation of para-ecology in dryland research and restoration was held at the Botanical Garden of the University of Hamburg, Germany, from 17-19 February 2014.The training school aimed to explore the role of para-ecologists in the sustainable management of drylands and restoration of degraded land.

The training school formed part of the EU COST Action ES1104 “Desert Restoration Hub” and was open to PhD students and Postdocs who work in the field of restoration and monitoring of dryland ecosystems and who are interested in learning about approaches for integrating local stakeholders through the involvement of para-ecologists.

Documentation of the training school can be downloaded here (PDF 670 KB)

Participants (from left to right): Shekhar Kolipaka, Kamal Zurba, Nathan Forsythe, Steffen Niemann, Ieda Maria Bortolotto, Maria Fantappiè, Yoseph Araya, Matilda Palm, Marc Parfondry, Ute Schmiedel, Linda Böckenhoff, Naghme Gholami, Athanasios (Thanos) Smanis, Christoph Külls. Photo: Geraldo Alves Damasceno Junior

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Para-ecologist training course in Wondo Genet / Ethiopia, 2014

Participants, from left to right: Back: Teshome Gigi, Tamirat Gelaye, Gabrehiwot Woldeyohannes, Kefyalew Mulele, Tadele Zewdie, Fikadu Asseza, Peter Borchardt, Gemechu Koroso, Senait Desalegne Front: Getachew Birhamu, Habtamu Elias, Bezashwork Melaku, Seblework Alemu, Habtamu Assaye, Abebe Mulu; squatting in front: Misasu Teshome

From 20th to the 24th of January 2014, a para-ecologist training workshop was held at the Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources near Shashemene in Ethiopia. The trainees, mainly local tour guides but also college staff, were interested to get involved into future research and maintenance activities around the Wondo Genet College Arboretum. The para-ecologist training comprises topics like plant biology, plant identification, and taking photos of plants.

The workshop forms part of the ARBOPRO project of the University of Hamburg. For more information about ARBOPRO contact Peter Borchardt borchardt@geowiss.uni-hamburg.de For more information about the training course contact Ute Schmiedel Ute.Schmiedel@uni-hamburg.de.

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First Groen Sebenza para-ecologist training workshop
held in Grabouw / South Africa, October 2013

Back (from left to right): Mzukisi Beja, Marius Lombard, Landiso Mila, Someleze Mgcuwa, Hlengiwe Mtshali, Marcus de Goede, Mahlatse Mogale, Vathiswe Zikishe
Middle: Mluleki Nkosi, Anri Marais, Liezel Knight, Siphosethu Moshani, Khululwa Gxekwa, Areefa Tietis, Bettina Koelle, Bongeka Ntola
Front: Mxolisi Ngongoma, Sibusisu Mqadi, Mzamo Dlamini, Karen Herman

The Workshop From 28th of October until 1st of November 2013 eighteen Groen Sebenza para-ecologists from the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape Province of South Africa participated in a training workshop held in Grabouw / Western Cape Province of South Africa. The para-ecologists are working for 2.5 years with various institutions and organisations in rural areas or small towns where they are involved in biodiversity assessment, monitoring and management. The workshop included topics like professional performance at the workplace, conflict resolution, reporting, facilitation of meetings and workshops, time management, budget management, team building but also the use of GPS, the taking of plant photos for scientific purposes, the value of scientific names for plants and animals etc.

Groen Sebenza Groen Sebenza is a Jobs Fund Partnership Project that aims at developing priority skills in the biodiversity sector to create sustainable job opportunities for 800 unemployed graduates and matriculants (for more info go to www.sanbi.org/programmes/education-hcd/groen-sebenza). Eighteen of the Groen Sebenza matriculants participated in the para-ecologist training workshop.

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The second training workshop for the para-ecologists of the Future Okavango project is taking place in XXX from XXX of XXX 2013 Vilho Snake Mtuleni (technician, Namibia), Meshack Kwamovo (Botswana), Robert Mukuya (Namibia), Miguel Hilario (Angola), Ute Schmiedel (Germany)

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2011 - 2012 BIOTA exhibition the pyramids in the Botanical Garden, Hamburg see more

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The first training workshop for the para-ecologists
of the Future Okavango project is taking place in Mayana,
Rundu / Namibia from 7th to 17th of August 2012.

Vilho Snake Mtuleni (technician, Namibia), Miguel Hilario (Angola), Meshack Kwamovo (Botswana), Robert Mukuya (Namibia).

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14 - 17 June 2011 International workshop on para-eologist programmes held at the Biocentre Klein Flottbek, University of Hamburg / Germany more information

2009 Arid Zone Ecology Forum (AZEF) in South Africa Best oral presentation by young scientists: Second prize was awarded jointly to the para-ecologists Richard Isaacks and Sebedeus Swartbooi For more information see the Arid Zone Ecology Forum website

2009 BIOTA exhibition at the Loki Schmidt Haus, Hamburg more information

2008 Side event at the CBD COP 9 in Bonn, Germany: The Other Perspective: Visions of African Stakeholders on Biodiversity Convention and Sustainable Develoment more information

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