Difference between revisions of "News"

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<span style="color:#ff0000"><span style="font-size: large">'''Third paraecologist workshop in Ethiopia'''</span></span>
 
<span style="color:#ff0000"><span style="font-size: large">'''Third paraecologist workshop in Ethiopia'''</span></span>
 
 
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The ARBONETH project (https://www.arboneth.com/) ​held the third training workshop for the two project paraecologists as well as for 19 workers from the plant nursery and the arboretum at the Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources in southern Ethiopia. The workshop aimed to broaden the participants' understanding of plant propagation and cultivation techniques. Other aims of the workshop were to share local knowledge on useful plants, better understand of environmental conservation, the planning of activities with school children around the plant nursery or the arboretum as well as team building.
 
The ARBONETH project (https://www.arboneth.com/) ​held the third training workshop for the two project paraecologists as well as for 19 workers from the plant nursery and the arboretum at the Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources in southern Ethiopia. The workshop aimed to broaden the participants' understanding of plant propagation and cultivation techniques. Other aims of the workshop were to share local knowledge on useful plants, better understand of environmental conservation, the planning of activities with school children around the plant nursery or the arboretum as well as team building.

Revision as of 10:03, 5 July 2018


News & Archive

​Scroll down for latest News and the Archive of events, exhibitions, publications, and workshops since the implementation of the paraecologist platform in 2011.




June 18 - June 22, 2018

Third paraecologist workshop in Ethiopia


Wondo Genet Paraecologist Workshop US18 1562 950.jpg

The ARBONETH project (https://www.arboneth.com/) ​held the third training workshop for the two project paraecologists as well as for 19 workers from the plant nursery and the arboretum at the Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources in southern Ethiopia. The workshop aimed to broaden the participants' understanding of plant propagation and cultivation techniques. Other aims of the workshop were to share local knowledge on useful plants, better understand of environmental conservation, the planning of activities with school children around the plant nursery or the arboretum as well as team building.




November 23, 2017

​South African paraecologist Reginald Christiaan wins Kudu Award

Reginald Christiaan, paraecologist from Soebatsfontein, South Africa, wins the Kudu Award "Youth in Conservation" from South African National Parks (SANParks) for his contribution to conservation through his scorpion project that raises awareness on the diversity and ecology of this understudied Arachnida fauna of the Namaqualand.

Kudu Awards 2017 Reginald Christiaan with Parkmanager e 720.jpg
Ms. ​Angela Isaks, Park Manager of the Namaqua National Park​, and Mr. Reginald Christiaan at the 13th annual SANParks Kudu Awards ceremony at the CSIR Convention Centre in Pretoria.

More about Reginald Christiaan and his projects

More about Kudu Awards: Sanparks Kudu Awards2017




May 29 - June 2, 2017

​the ARBONETH ​project

​held a participatory training workshop for the two project paraecologists as well as for 19 horticulturists from the Wondo Genet College and from the neighbouring village. The workshop aimed to broaden the understanding of ecological processes that are relevant for plant propagation and cultivation. Other aims of the project were to deepen the understanding of horticultural techniques and reflect on challenges of giving and receiving instructions and of working in teams.

Arbo Neth participatory training workshop US17 1690 900.jpg

The workshop was jointly facilitated by Ms. Seble Metefaria (Wondo Genet College), and Dr. Ute Schmiedel (Hamburg University), and
supported by Mr. Sintayehu Tamene (Wondo Genet College). www.arboneth.com




February 2017, new video:


Madagascar Mitsinjo Defenders of the forest video.jpg Defenders of the Forest (Madagascar)

The film portrays the work of several members of the community-based Association Mitsinjo in Madagascar, including various aspects involving the association's paraecologists. The focus is on Justin Claude Rakotoarisoa, who is heading Mitsinjo's amphibian research and conservation activities. The film was produced for CCTV/CGTN and its series "Faces of Africa".

Directed & shot by: Lauren Clifford-Holmes, Patricia Bush and Justin Claude Rakotoarisoa

Supported by: Rainer Dolch, Tianasoa Ratolojanahary, Irène Ramanantenasoa, Youssouf (Association Mitsinjo)

Video with English subtitles: www.youtube.com




May 2016


Schmiedel et al 2016 cover 200.jpg New review about paraecologist programmes world-wide published in Conservation Biology

The review describes paraecologist and parataxonomist programmes in Costa Rica, India, Papua New Guinea and southern Africa and compares their origins, long-term objectives, implementation strategies, activities, key challenges, achievements, and implications for resident communities. The paper can be read and downloaded for free.
Free download from journal website

PDF (300KB)




August 2015

New paraecologist video available:
Sharing The Future Okavango Research Results.


Sharing the Future Okavango Results 555.jpg

The film „Sharing The Future Okavango Research Results“ was conceived, filmed and directed by the TFO paraecologists Mukuya Robert, Miguel S. Hilario and Kwamovo Meshack to communicate some of the project’s research results to rural dwellers in Angola, Namibia and Botswana. For more information click here

The video with English (https://vimeo.com/131449263) and Portuguese (https://vimeo.com/134558873) subtitles can now be viewed and downloaded freely from the internet.




June 2015

Miguel S. Hilario (Angola), Meshack Kwamovo (Botswana), and Robert Mukuya (Namibia) make the film Sharing The Future Okavango Research Results.


Future Okavango Message video 2015 720.jpg
Video still with Meshack Kwamov, Robert Mukuya, and Miguel Hilario.

During the first half of 2015, the paraecologists of the Future Okavango Project produced a 20 min film where they translated outcomes of the research project into six land user-relevant messages. The footage has been shot at the three core research sites of the project, Cusseque in Angola, Mashare in Namibia and Seronga in Botswana. The languages used in the film are Portuguese, Rukwangali and Setswana with English and Portuguese subtitles. From 10th to the 20th of June, the paraecologists met in Windhoek to edit the film together with Martin Gruber, ethnofilm. The film will be launched mid of July and will be freely downloadable from the internet.




June 2015

The DAAD-funded ARBONETH project conducted the second paraecologist training workshop at the Wondo Genet College for Forestry and Natural Resources of the Hawassa University, Ethiopia.

From 17th to 26th of June, 22 trainees from the local rural communities will participate in the training workshop. Subsequently, two paraecologists will be selected, trained and involved in the project as paraecologists until end of 2018. Two staff members of the college will get continuous backstopping as mentors and trainers for these paraecologists. The training workshop was facilitated by Ute Schmiedel (University of Hamburg), Seble Metaferia (Wondo Genet College), Sintayehu Tamene (Wondo Genet College), Justin Donnelley (Peace Corp Ethiopia).

Para Ecologist Ethiopia US15 2030 1000.jpg
Participants of the second paraecologist training workshop in Wondo Genet in June 2015. Back: Zenebe Tefera, Zenebe Zerihun, Shallo Kufa, Seble Metaferia, Serawit Tasew, Dereje Bekele, Bekele Legese, Hussen Adem. Front: Tumicha Tuna, Sintayehu Tamene, Zerfu Jomba, Ejigayehu Mengesha, Shura Hujawa, Gabrehiwot Woldeyohanis, Meseret Worku, Tamirat Gelaye, Mulugeta Lele, Yohanis Erdachew, Zegeye Tsega. Not on the photo: Sintayehu Tsige, Habtamu Elias, Justin Donnelley, Ute Schmiedel.




March 2015

The forth training workshop for the paraecologists of The Future Okavango project is taking place in Chitembo, Bie / Angola from 16th to 28th March, 2015.

The main objective of the training course is to produce short films to share the TFO research outcome with local stakeholders at the three core research sites of the project.

Para-ecologist-workshop Chitembo 2015 850.jpg
Participants: Ute Schmiedel (Germany), Meshack Kwamovo (Botswana), Robert Mukuya (Namibia), Vilho Snake Mtuleni (Namibia), Miguel Hilario (Angola), and
Lucas Severino Kassoma (Angola).




January 2015

ARBONETH initiates paraecologist programme in Ethiopia

ARBONETH (ARBOPRO-NETWORK-ETHIOPIA), an initiative funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), develops a paraecologist programme at the Wondo Genet College for Forestry and Natural Resources of the Hawassa University, Ethiopia. The paraecologists will support scientists and ensure that their local knowledge will be integrated into the academic research. The paraecologist programme will be implemented in collaboration with the University of Hamburg.

Arboneth US14 0468 555.jpg
Paraecologists during a training workshop in Wondo Genet in 2014.



September 2014

Paraecologists from Botswana and Namibia presented at the Arid Zone Ecology - Thicket Fusion Forum (Conference) in South Africa

Meshack Kwamovo at AZEF-gala-dinner c Detail 250.jpg

The paraecologists Meshack Kwamovo and Robert Mukuya of the Future Okavango Project (www.future-okavango.org) attended the Arid Zone Ecology – Thicket Fusion Forum in Grahamstown, South Africa, from 8 to 11 September 2014. They presented a poster and a talk on Science – Community Communication, which were both very well received by the audience. As a result of his relevant and well-presented talk, Meshack Kwamovo was requested by the conference organisers to address the Head of Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism of the Eastern Cape, Mr. Bongani Gxilishe, and the participants of the conference on the question “How to master the science – community communication?” during the Gala Dinner at the end of the conference.

Meshack Kwamovo at AZEF-gala-dinner c 620.jpg
Meshack Kwamovo at AZEF gala dinner



July / August 2014

The third training workshop for the paraecologists 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.

Para-ecologists-training Future Okavango 2014 US14 2954 72 600.jpg
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).



February 2014

Training school on involvement of paraecologists into dryland restoration and research
held in Hamburg in February 2014

A training school on Participation Driven Science in Ecology and Hydrology: Implementation of paraecology 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 paraecologists 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 paraecologists.


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


COSTparaecologist training school Geraldo Alves Damasceno Junior 72 920.jpg
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




Paraecologist training course in Wondo Genet / Ethiopia, 2014

Para Ecologist Wondo Genet US14 0134 72 920.jpg
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 paraecologist 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 paraecologist 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.





First Groen Sebenza paraecologist training workshop
held in Grabouw / South Africa, October 2013

Group photo US13 5169 72 900.jpg
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 paraecologists 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 paraecologists 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 matriculated students (for more info go to www.sanbi.org/programmes/education-hcd/groen-sebenza).


Eighteen of the Groen Sebenza matriculated students participated in the paraecologist training workshop.





The second training workshop for the paraecologists of the Future Okavango project took place in Sergonag / Botswana from 21st of July until 4th of August, 2013

Paraecologist Seronga IMG 1502 0866 72 700.jpg
Vilho Snake Mtuleni (technician, Namibia), Meshack Kwamovo (Botswana), Robert Mukuya (Namibia), Miguel Hilario (Angola), Ute Schmiedel (Germany)

The training was focussed on the objectives of the Future Okavango project, climate change, and application of computer programmes.



2011 - 2012
Exhibition about BIOTA paraecologists in the pyramids of the Desert Garden in the Botanical Garden of the University of Hamburg

Pyramids-Pyramiden Hamburg Botanical Garden IMG 4216 600.jpg


see more





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

20120811 0247 Ausschnitt 72 900.jpg
Vilho Snake Mtuleni (technician, Namibia), Miguel Hilario (Angola), Meshack Kwamovo (Botswana), Robert Mukuya (Namibia).




International workshop on paraecologist programmes

Held at the Biocentre Klein Flottbek, University of Hamburg / Germany, 14 - 17 June 2011

The workshop was funded by the Volkswagen Foundation

72 850 OC106212.jpg
Photograph by Shekhar

Participants:

Abwoli Y. Banana, Makerere University, School of Forestry, Biodiversity and Tourism, Uganda
Anne Gérard, University of Hamburg, Germany
Bettina Koelle, Indigo development & change, South Africa
Caleb Ihaji Analo, KENYA POLLINATION PROJECT UNDER NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KENYA, Kenya
Emmanuel Luoga, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania
Feyera Senbeta Wakjira, Institute of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Fred Babweteera, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Uganda
Gerald Eilu, Makerere University, Uganda
Hansford Hungito (Nowatuo), New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, Papua New Guinea
Jörg Ganzhorn, University of Hamburg, Germany
Joseph Bahati, Makerere University, Uganda
Kolipaka Srinivas Shekhar, Wildlife and Nature Management Consultant, India / Netherlands
Moses Mwangoka, Tanzania Forest Conservation Group, Tanzania
Nasoavina Christin, Association Mitsinjo, Madagascar
Rainer Dolch, Association Mitsinjo, Germany / Madagascar
Reginald Christiaan, Intern at the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History in Pretoria / ARC, South Africa
Tene Kwetche Sop, University of Hamburg, Germany
Tianasoa Honoré Ratolojanahary, Association Mitsinjo, Madagascar
Ute Schmiedel, University of Hamburg, Germany
Vilho Snake Mtuleni, SASSCAL, Namibia
Vojtech Novotny, New Guinea Binatang Research Center, Papua New Guinea / Czech Republic


Documentation of workshop (PDF)




72 200 AZEF talk 09.jpg 2009
Arid Zone Ecology Forum (AZEF) in South Africa
Best oral presentation by young scientists:
Second prize was awarded jointly to
the paraecologists Richard Isaacks and Sebedeus Swartbooi


For more information see the Arid Zone Ecology Forum website




72 200 DSCN8547.jpg 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 Development


72 555 US08 4344.jpg

Robert Mukuya, Namibia (left) and Marianna Johanna Lot, South Africa (center) were invited as BIOTA paraecologists to present the visions of African stakeholders on the Biodiversity Convention from the paraecologists' perspective.


PDF of the side event brochure




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