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For the latest conservation news and opportunities in Africa

This e-bulletin is designed to supplement the TBA funding database by posting the most recent opportunities and announcements as they come in. In particular, it focuses on current job vacancies and funding sources for African conservation biologists. The bulletin also posts information on the progress of TBA alumni groups. The groups are organised by the alumni to promote interaction between their members and the entire TBA network. They provide a forum for the alumni to share ideas and experiences after the courses. The groups are a perfect source of conservation professionals for individuals and institutions in the particular countries who wish to recruit staff and collaborators. Alumni who wish to update their details with the TBA can fill in the alumni updates form and send it to alumni@tropical-biology.org.

Conservation News

Ecological Society for Eastern Africa, Student Presentation Competition, Tanzania

Following generous contributions from Jaclyn Hall of Florida University and Pantaleo Munishi of Sokoine University, the ESEA is glad to announce the introduction of a 'student Session' in the coming conference. Deadline for notifying the Student Presentation Competition coordinators is March 31, 2008. Find details here>>

Capacity Building Course on Pollination Ecology and Bee Biology, Kenya

Initiated by the BIOTA East Africa Pollination Project, the National Museums of Kenya (Invertebrate Department) and the University of Bielefeld (Biological Collection) will jointly conduct the 2nd course in “Pollination Ecology and Bee Biology”. The course is designed for graduate students wanting to improve their understanding of bees and pollination biology. The course will take place at the Invertebrate Department of National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, from September 4th to August 29th 2008. More

Application deadline is 15th June, 2008

Working Forests in the Tropics Conference

The University of Florida and the School of Forest Resources and Conservation invite you to attend the 2008 Working Forests in the Tropics Conference (WFT) to be held in Gainesville, FL at the J. Wayne Reitz Union, October 5-7,2008. For more information click here

Announcement of the Second Conference of Congolese Ecologists

The SOCECO Organizing Committee is happy to announce the second Conference of Congolese Ecologists that will be held in September 2008 at the Faculty of Science, University of Kisangani (DRC). Those interested in Congolese ecology and able to contribute with a talk and/or a poster are eligible. The closing date for the submission of Abstracts is the end of April 2008. More>>

Journal of Medicinal Plant Research, call for papers

The Journal of Medicinal Plant Research (JMPR) provides rapid publication (monthly) of articles in all areas of research in Medicinal Plants. The Journal welcomes the submission of manuscripts. Papers will be published approximately one month after acceptance. Instruction for authors and other details are available on the website Prospective authors should send their manuscript(s) to jmpr.acadjourn@gmail.com

Digital library of scholarly resources from and about Africa

Aluka (www.aluka.org), a new electronic resource, and affiliated with JSTOR (www.jstor.org), is a not-for-profit international, collaborative initiative building an online digital library of scholarly resources from and about Africa. Aluka is offered free of charge to not-for-profit institutions and individuals in Africa. To sign up, institutional representatives may complete a Participation Agreement which can be done Online at http://www.aluka.org/page/join/agreement.jsp while individuals may go to Alukas public site at www.aluka.org and create a User ID & get a password.

Public Library of Science (PLoS)

Online free access journal articles are available at the PLoS website. Click here to access the resources.

Call for Papers/Abstracts for PAOC12

Call for papers and abstracts for the 12th Pan-African Ornithological Congress is now open. The Congress is scheduled to take place from 7-12 September 2008 in South Africa. For more details about the scientific programme, available symposia and general information on the congress venue please go to http://www.paoc12.org

Free Conservation books available

The British Ecological Society, the NHBS Environment Bookstore and publishers and authors of various conservation books are providing ecology and conservation books to individuals through the Gratis books scheme.

Teaching Psychology for Sustainability

An online manual of resources on teaching Psychology for Sustainability is now available here. Wondering where to publish your work? A new hand book of journals that publish conservation science is now available online. Details>>

Madagascar Conservation & Development Journal

Madagascar Wildlife Conservation and the Jane Goodall Institute Switzerland have released issue 1 of the new Conservation and Development journal. The whole issue is available for free here

SCB to provide free access to publications for developing country members

The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB), in collaboration with Blackwell Publishing and Elsevier Publishing announces that online access to the journals Conservation Biology, Conservation In Practice, and Biological Conservation is now free to SCB members in developing countries. Details>>

Development as a Conservation Tool

The Centre for Evidence-Based Conservation ( www.cebc.bham.ac.uk ) has recently published a systematic review on the use of development as a conservation tool. Details>>

WWF Research Registry

This is a very basic website from which you can download a pdf that lists 50-60 research projects World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is interested in seeing accomplished. Many of the projects are appropriate for Masters level thesis projects or graduate level course work, additional details are provided at the site

Opportunities, jobs and scholarships

Post of Project Manager

Conservation and Management of Eastern Mau Group [COMEG] with support from the Community Environment Facility [CEF] is implementing a three year project. COMEG is recruiting a Project Manager who will report to the Project Implementation Committee [PIC]. Please see more information no the post here

Application deadline 12th May, 2008

Training opportunities at JKUAT

The Department of Geomatic Engineering and Geospatial Information Systems (GEGIS) at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) is pleased to bring to your attention exciting opportunities for training at postgraduate level in the following: MSc in GIS and Remote Sensing, MSc in Environmental Information Systems, postgraduate diploma in GIS and remote sensing and in postgraduate diploma in environmental Information Systems. See details here

Application deadline 22nd May, 2008

Post-doctoral position in Forest Ecology

A two-year postdoctoral position is available at the National School of Agronomy in Bordeaux (UMR TCEM INRA-ENITAB), France, starting at September 2008. More>>

Applications will be accepted until May 31, 2008

World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Recruiting Women’s Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

ICRAF is establishing a Women’s Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Programme. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply through one of its five Regional Coordinators or six Global Research Project Leaders identified in the application form. However, applications can also be made via email: icrafhru@cgiar.org. More>>. Applications will be considered throughout the year although the first round will likely be decided by applications received before 4th April, 2008

Training for Conservation Professionals; Conservation Strategy Fund

Conservation Strategy Fund is now accepting applications for its 9th annual International Course, Economic Tools for Conservation. The course will be held from August 11-22, 2008 at Stanford University in California, in partnership with Stanford's Center for Conservation Biology and The Nature Conservancy. The announcement and application can be found at the site

The application deadline is 15th May, 2008

Postgraduate Training Fellowships for Women Scientists

The Third World Organisation for Women in Science (TWOWS) is inviting applications from qualified young women science graduates (generally below 40 years of age) from Sub-Saharan Africa and/or Least Developed Countries (LDCs) who wish to pursue postgraduate training leading to a doctorate degree at a centre of excellence in the South outside their own country. Additional information can be obtained from the link: http://www.twows.org

Application deadline is 31st May, 2008

Blue Ventures Conservation Malagasy Scholarship

Blue Ventures' commitment to national-level capacity building for coastal management in Madagascar has seen the creation of the BV Scholarship, a fund to support and train Malagasy nationals with an interest in marine conservation. For more information please click here

Site on Jobs and scholarships

A new website on jobs and scholarships with a wide range of undergraduate, Masters and PhD scholarship opportunities is now available; http://www.advance-africa.com/Advance-Africa-Newsletter-68.html

Grants

Abdou-Salam Oueadrogo Fellowship 2008; Call for Applications

Bioversity International is pleased to announce the Abdou-Salam Oueadrogo Fellowship for research on conservation and use of forest genetic resources in Sub-Saharan Africa for the year 2008. Application forms and guidelines for preparation of the research proposals in English and French are available at the website

Application deadline is 30th May, 2008

Funding opportunity for Kenyan & Tanzanian postgraduates

The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is seeking for grant applications from Kenyans and Tanzanians to offer funding to 16 post-graduate students who will contribute to the generation of scientific knowledge of over 300 globally threatened species in 160 Key Biodiversity Areas in the Eastern Arc Mountains. Go to the CEPF Profile/strategy for that region at www.cepf.net for further details.

Royal Geographic Society (RGS) Grants

A variety of grants are available from the RGS. See: http://www.rgs.org/OurWork/Grants/Grants.htm

Rufford Small Grants for Nature Conservation

Rufford Small Grants for Nature Conservation (RSGs) are aimed at small conservation programmesand pilot projects. They were set up in 1999 by The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation. RSG's are available to individuals and small groups. Applications can be made at any time of the year, decisions are usually made within three months. They generally support projects of about a year's duration. Applications from non-first world areas are strongly encouraged. Further details>>

Fellowship in Tropical Coastal Marine Ecology and Biogeochemistry

In line with its resolute efforts to promote South-South and North-South cooperation in science and technology, the NAM S&T Centre has instituted a number of Fellowship schemes that are aimed at supporting the deserving young scientists in the developing countries to establish closer linkages with the Centres of Excellence located in various countries. Click here for details

Application deadline is 31st December 2008

Acknowledgement of contributors

Some of the opportunities posted were sent in by; Dr. Wanja Kinuthia, Samora Macrice, Leon Bennun, Kowiyou Yessoufou, Nadya Cartagena, Emile Mulotwa, Celline Achieng, Nancy Bettt and Jhanna C. Gilbert.

If you have any contributions, we would be grateful if you sent them to alumni@tropical-biology.org

TBA deadlines and events

TBA courses, 2008

The next courses will be held in 2008 in Tanzania, Uganda and Madagascar. Closing date for applications is the 20th February. More information on the TBA courses is available here

TBA MSc Scholarships, 2008

Applications are being received for the 2008 round up. The closing date for application to the TBA master's scholarship programme is the 30th of June. See details here

TBA Alumni groups

TBA alumni in various areas have grouped together and created alumni associations. If you wish to get further information on the association in your country please find the contacts below. In case there is no such a group in your home country and you wish to start one, don't hesitate to contact the TBA alumni desk for guidance

Established groups

Benin

Country Co-ordinator: Kowiyou Yessoufou (02/2, Kibale) kyessoufou@yahoo.fr
Assistant coordinator: Nadine WOROU/Ulysse KOROGONI (05/4, Kirindy) staulysse@yahoo.fr
Organizing secretary: Etotepe SOGBOHOSSOU (04/1, Naivasha) etotepe@yahoo.com

The Benin TBA alumni group held its first reunion on 15th October 2007, at the Institute of Applied Biological Sciences (ISBA) at Cotonou, Benin. The group shared their course experiences and their progress after the course and set up its goals, mainly to actively contribute in conservation of natural resources and also publicise the TBA in Benin. Minutes of the meeting are available here

Cameroon

Country Co-ordinator: Godwin Ade Tanda (TBA 04/4, Kirindy) godytanda@yahoo.fr or CATBAA@yahoogroups.com Webpage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CATBAA

Ghana

Country Co-ordinator: John Abraham (TBA 04/2, Kibale) jonnieabraham@yahoo.co.uk .


The Co-ordinator gives a presentation during the RENARSA seminar	Section of the Audience listen to presentation by the group Co-ordinator

On Wednesday October 4, 2006, the Ghanian TBA alumni group was invited to give a presentation at the 22nd week celebration of the Renewable Natural Resources Student's Association, the Student's association of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. The group was represented by the co-ordinator, Mr. John Abraham who gave a talk on the Role of the Natural Resources Scientist/Manager in National Development. He also introduced the Tropical Biology Association (TBA) to the attendants. View the summary talk by the co-ordinator.Ghanian TBA alumni group webpage: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/ghanaiantba. To share ideas and information with the group members, please send an email to ghanaiantba@yahoo.co.uk.

Nigeria

Country Coordinator: Folaranmi Dapo Babalola (03/1, Kibale) folababs2000@yahoo.com
Assistant Coordinator: Eruogun Oyomoare (05/1, Kibale) oyomoare@yahoo.com
Organizing Secretary: Stephen Awoyemi (02/3, Amani) stephen_awoyemi@yahoo.com


NTBA members interact during their meeting on July 1 2006	An NTBA member in a Tshirt produced to mark the day

The first re-union of the Nigeria TBA Alumni (NTBA) group was held on July 1st, 2006 at the University of Ibadan. It was an interesting moment for all the nine alumni present to meet for the first time and share their different experiences during and after their TBA courses. Click here to view the minutes of this meeting.

The group held a successful Reunion on June 16th, 2007. Alumni got an opportunity to share experiences during and after TBA courses, discussed on the way forward after TBA and agreed on reach out programme for NTBA. A new structure for NTBA was designed. A talk on Career and self development was given (available on audio tape). Those interested in the audio tape can contact the NTBA coordinator. A lecture titled Climate Change: Critical issues and options was delivered (available in Power point) and is on the Reunion CD.

To learn more about the NTBA, please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NTBA. To share ideas with other group members, send a mail to NTBA@yahoogroups.com

Kenya

Country Co-ordinator: Margaret Owuor (06/2, Kibale) awuorowuor@yahoo.com
Assistant Coordinator: Masumi Gudka (06/3, Mpala/Naivasha) Masumigudka@hotmail.com
Organizing Secretary: Irene Madindou (05/4, Kirindy) aireener@gmail.com


The Interim Secretary guides the attendees through a session of the meeting	A group photo of the members in attendance

The TBA Alumni Association of Kenya (TBAAK) held its first meeting on February 9th 2007 at the National Museums of Kenya. All the 16 alumni present had an exciting opportunity sharing their experiences after their respective courses. During the meeting, the alumni discussed what they wished to be their objectives and the activities they wished to undertake. The meeting also saw the alumni pick interim officials to run he group's affairs before elections are held. Also picked were interim committees to guide the group in achieving their various objectives. All TBA alumni from Kenya are invited to join and contribute to these committees. Second meeting was held on 11th May 2007. Members present shared ideas and views on TBAAK constitution. Date for the next meeting will be decided and communicated to all Kenyan alumni.

Madagascar

Country Co-ordinator: Andriamarovololona Mijasoa (05/2, Kirindy) mijasoa@yahoo.com


Atendees of the inaugural meeting discuss the stucture and activites of MTBA	A group photo of the attendees of the MTBA inaugural meeting

The Madagascar TBA alumni (MTBA) group held its inaugural meeting on December 3rd 2007. The meeting was attended by 15 Malagasy Alumni. The alumni were all excited about opportunity to meet up and share ideas and experiences. The structure of MTBA was discussed and its main goals stated. These include; strengthening collaboration and friendship among Malagasy TBA Alumni, contribute significantly to the biodiversity conservation in Madagascar and to make TBA/MTBA known and recognized by conservation agencies in Madagascar and abroad. To achieve its objectives the group agreed on the following activities; training (between MTBA and by MTBA),environmental education, web discussions, public awareness, scientific meetings and regular communication with TBA offices. Click here for a presentation on MTBA delivered by Mija during the launch.
To date the group has held 2 formal meetings (and a few preparatory meetings by the committee) and participated in series of lectures by Eric Rakotoarisoa (an alumnus working for Yale University). A proposal on the MTBA week event to be held on 9-14th June 2008 is being worked on.
Malagasy alumni are invited to share ideas and learn the activities of the group at the website and via e-mail

Rwanda

Country Co-ordinator: Tuyisingize Deogratias (06/4, Kirindy) tuyideo@yahoo.fr


Tuyisingize Deogratias presents during the launch of the Rwanda TBA Alumni group	Director of Karisoke Research centre joins the Rwandan alumni during the launch

The Rwanda TBA Alumni held its first meeting on 2nd August, 2007 at the Karisoke Research Center, Musanze, Rwanda. Minutes of the meeting are available here.

Sudan

Country Co-ordinator: Sara Saeed (TBA 04/3, Kibale) sarakhider@hotmail.com


Members who attended the first re-union in a group photo at the University of Khartoum	Some of the group members in a discussion while attending a meeting recently

The Sudan TBA alumni Association was launched in a colourful reunion meeting on 30th December, 2004 at the Natural History Museum of the University of Khartoum. In the latest group meeting held in December 2006 at the Sudan Institute for Natural Sciences (SIFNS), members reviewed the activities of the year and set a plan for the 2007 activities. Fresh graduates from the University of Khartoum who were also in attendance were encouraged to apply for the TBA course in 2007. On 15th February 2007 the group had a meeting with a representative of the Sudanese Society for Conserving Environment. This was to discuss the future of the Sunut Forest bordering the White Nile River in Khartoum State proposed to be a Ramsar Site and now threatened with destruction.

Groups under formation

Ethiopia

Interim Co-ordinator: Kinfe Tesfaye Kahissai (04/2, Kibale) dawity2000@yahoo.com

Malawi

Interim Co-ordinator: Tiwonge Ivy Mzumara (05/1, Kibale) tiwongem@yahoo.com

Sierra Leone

Interim Co-ordinator: Abu Conteh (98/2, Kibale) abuconteh@justice.com

Tanzania

Interim Co-ordinator: Dos Santos Silayo (02/2, Kibale) dsilayo@yahoo.co.uk

Uganda

Interim Co-ordinator: Concy Olanya ( 06/3, Mpala/Naivasha) quonsie@yahoo.com

Tropical Biology Association

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