VERHEYEN, Erik (RBINS), 2005-2006 project
Taxonomical training for the study of human induced environmental changes on the biodiversity of selected terrestrial and aquatic faunas in Eastern Congo (2005-2006)
Promoted by: Dr E. Verheyen (RBINS), Dr J. Snoeks (RMCA) & Dr H.Leirs (University of Antwerp).
Local partner: University of Kisangani.
Identified taxonomic impediment: the proposed training activities targets both the traditional taxonomy and the molecular systematics of small mammals (shrews and rodents) and freshwater fishes in the Kisangani Region and provides the necessary training to support scientists of the ‘Laboratoire d’Ecologie et de Gestion des Resources Animales’ (LEGERA) to implement of new ‘integrated conservation and development’ programs currently being adopted by national governments, international agencies, NGOs and resource user communities in response to the UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992). The post-Rio conservation agenda is guided by international environmental agreements, principally the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The CBD promotes a utilitarian approach to conservation through sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the study of that biodiversity.
Objectives: the overruling objective is to provide taxonomical training of two Congolese scientists (one for mammals, one for fishes) of the ‘LEGERA’ in support of a recently initiated (VLIR) project at the University of Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of Congo that is intended to assist our Congolese colleagues in rebuilding the taxonomic know-how of their team that is required to perform their main task: i.e. the ecological study of animal species and their populations in order to manage their regional animal resources.
Our proposal will assist them by providing the taxonomical expertise that is required to carry out the studies they intend to perform on (1) the diversity of small mammals of the forest region of Kisangani, one of the most species rich terrestrial habitats on the globe and (2) on the fish diversity from the Congo River. We aim to provide the necessary training and expertise to improve the capacity of this local institution and its staff to carry out correct species identifications using traditional morphology based methods, and to provide basic training that will allow them to understand how they may use recent molecular methods (mtDNA sequencing) to characterize and describe the species collected during their field studies.
Poverty reduction components: the scientific capacity of the University of Kisangani has significantly augmented, making them a key-player for inventory and monitoring in the region
Scientific capacity building: Results obtained by the local scientists in the framework of this project have been disseminated through a workshop that was organized at the end of the project. Several scientific papers are also in preparation. All scientific data collected during the project have been stored in such a way that they remain accessible to all participants of the project (CD-ROM).
Human capacity building: several researchers have been trained, in traditional (= morphology-based) and molecular (= DNA-based) taxonomy. Thanks to received training and contacts made, one of the principal trainees (S. Gambalamoke) currently carries out a PhD project, financed by an alternative sponsor.
Institutional capacity building: the University of Kisangani is emerging as a center of expertise in species identification enabling its staff to carry out monitoring and ecological studies. The University is also the first African institute to join the international Consortium for the Barcoding of Life.
From adventurous field work to group training at the University of Kisangani through training in molecular systematics at the RBINS.
