Regional Conservation Science - Policy Conference

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS AND SHORT COURSES, 26–27 January, 2009

In order to maximise returns from your participation in the 3-day Regional Conservation Science and Policy conference from January 28 – 30, 2009, the meeting organisers in partnership with individual scientists and organisations have put together a number of pre-conference workshops and short courses. These programmes will last for 1 day or 2 days and will be conducted by a number of expertsThe LOC Secretariat is now accepting applications. Kindly Specify Your Interest And Send Email to: scbafricameeting@conbio.org

Workshop 1: Fund-Raising and Marketing Your Work
Workshop 2: Gender, Natural Resource Management and Poverty Reduction
Workshop 3: Ecological Capacity and Networking [Ghanaians Only]
Short Course: Wetland Restoration

Workshop 1: Fund-Raising and Marketing Your Work Date: Monday-Tuesday, 26-27
African scientists require fund-raising skills so that they can secure adequate resources to undertake priority conservation projects. Part of this skills set includes knowledge of marketing one’s work through publications and other media.
CONTENT Discussion on the barriers to effective fund-raising and publishing Talk and Practical on fund-raising Talk and Practical on scientific writing skills and publishing work Lessons learned and the way forward Distribution of training materials so that participants can carry out the training in their home institutions
Venue:	Centre for African Wetlands, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
Time:	8.30 am – 4.00 pm each day
Who should participate:	Open to Individuals, all Disciplines and Institutional Bodies Must have Registered for Conference
Admission	Free [But Open to Conference Participants Only with Appropriate Identification Tag]
Organisers	Rosie Trevelyan (Tropical Biology Association, Cambridge University, UK) Anthony Kuria (Tropical Biology Association Africa), Nairobi, Kenya
Contact:	Living Earth Foundation, Ghana [LEFG] / Centre for Human and Environmental Security [CHES], Email – scbafrica2009@conbio.org. Tel: 021-407271 [LOC Office]

Workshop 2: 2-Day Workshop on “Mainstreaming Gender, Natural Resource Management and Poverty Reduction” Date: Tuesday, 27

Women are known to be key natural resource users and potential stakeholders but are often neglected in decision making processes. Thus undermining the confidence of community resource management programmes and subsequently impacting on livelihoods and nature conservation. The workshop is towards the strengthening and increasing of human capital and capacity required for influencing high level decisions on the right of access to, and management of natural capital and resources by women.
CONTENT Access to, and Control over Natural Resources Land tenure and, communal property and use rights Land distribution and women’s encroachment on communal lands / common property resources Land conversion and women’s decision-making power Female-headed households and lack of access to land Women’s Management, Uses And Practice Of Natural Resources Women as primary users and managers of natural resources The relevance of focusing on the resource user in conservation fieldwork Women’s socially-ascribed contribution to the community and family – implications for resource use and management Introducing the Concept of the Community Resources Management Areas (CREMA) – a success model of CBNRM in Ghana Opportunity and the freedom for resource poor people to choose and also to incorporate natural resource management into livelihood strategy, Empowering people to protect their resources, and as a result, helping resource-poor people find solutions to their problems.
Venue:	Centre for African Wetlands, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
Time:	8.30 am – 4.00 pm
Who should participate:	Open to Individuals, all Disciplines and Institutional Bodies Must have Registered for Conference
Admission	Free [But Open to Conference Participants Only with Appropriate Identification Tag]
Organiser’s Contact:	Living Earth Foundation, Ghana [LEFG] / Centre for Human and Environmental Security [CHES], Email – scbafrica2009@conbio.org. Tel: 021-407271 [LOC Office]

Workshop 3: 1-Day Workshop on Ecological Capacity and Networking in Ghana Date: Monday, 26

This workshop constitutes series of activities that underlie the promotion of the science of ecology in Ghana, and networking that will enable ecological scientists in Ghana to interact. Known as the “Building Capacity for Ecology”, the initiative is between the Ecological Laboratory Unit [ECOLAB] of the University of Ghana and the British Ecological Society [BES], and facilitated by the Living Earth Foundation, Ghana [LEFG] / Centre for Human and Environmental Security [CHES].
The workshop aims at examining the state of the ecology of science in Ghana, including strengths, opportunities and weakness, and to jointly strategise on promoting and sustaining the discipline. It is therefore a participatory workshop with an expected output of a strategic plan that will include the formation of an ecological science network.
Venue:	Centre for African Wetlands, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
Time:	8.30 am – 4.00 pm [snacks and lunch will be served]
Position Paper / Presentation:	The Science of Ecology in the Era of Climate Change – the 50th Question for Ghana at 50 years
Who should participate:	Ghanaians Only: Ecological Practitioners, Professionals, Academics, Researchers, Related Corporate Entities and Environment Resource Governors, Graduates, etc. Conference Registration Not A Condition
Admission	Free [But on a 1st Come Basis by Contacting Organiser]
Contact:	Dr. Delali B. Dovie, Building Capacity for Ecology Project, Ecological Laboratory Unit [ECOLAB], University of Ghana, Legon. Email – scbafrica2009@conbio.org. Tel: 021-407271 [LOC Office]

Short Course: Wetland Creation/Restoration: Practical Lessons Date: Monday, 26
Learn how to design and construct/restore a wetland or watercourse in compliance with strict regulation. The science behind and methods used to achieve success are described through design graphics and photos of actual sites, with a particularly pragmatic approach to problem solving.
CONTENT A successful wetland construction project requires: (1) clear delineation of the habitat lost (for which creation/restoration is proposed), (2) detailed field study of the project site’s hydrology, (3) detailed ecological assessment of the wetland functions to be created/restored, (4) design specifications that are flexible, (5) arrangements with a reliable plant material supplier, (6) direct involvement of design experts during implementation, and (7) sponsor commitment to cultivation/maintenance for up to 5 years. This course emphasizes the ‘cradle-to-grave’ approach, with designers also acting as contractors. The ‘take-away’ lesson outline will be provided in print or on CD.
Venue:	Centre for African Wetlands, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
Time:	8.30 am – 4.00 pm
Who should participate:	Open to Individuals, all Disciplines and Institutional Bodies Must have Registered for Main Conference
Admission	Free [But Open to Conference Participants Only with Appropriate Identification Tag]
Organisers	Dr. Ron Abrams, CEP & Marilyn Abrams, MS, DRU Associates, USA
Contact:	Living Earth Foundation, Ghana [LEFG] / Centre for Human and Environmental Security [CHES], Email – scbafrica2009@conbio.org. Tel: 021-407271 [LOC Office]