CLIMATE AND BIODIVERSITY

AT NJALA UNIVERSITYSIERRA LEONE

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITY

The Government of Sierra Leone’s gazette No 11 of 10 March 2005 published the ‘Universities Act of 2005’, which established Njala University (see part II, section 3 (1) b) through the repeal of the Njala University College and University of Sierra Leone Acts of 1964 and 1972 respectively [see section 45 (1) (a) and (b)].

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•Chapter V, Section 14 (2) established the Schools of Forestry and Silviculture, Environmental Sciences among others.

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• The Schools are firmly embedded in the development process of Sierra Leone with special roles in improving the quality and expanding the quantity of human resources necessary for development.

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• These roles are fulfilled through the programmes offered by the School leading to the award of certificates, diplomas and degrees; and • by research, consultancy and

information collection services of the university and affiliated institutions.

INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

• Biological Sciences is a longstanding Department in the School of Environmental Sciences. – BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH HONOURS IN

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES• Example of courses taught include the following:

– BIOL 309 – WILDLIFE BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGY;

– BIOL 310 – BIODIVERSITY MONITORING TECHNIQUES; – BIOL 404 – APPLIED ECOLOGY; – BIOL 451 – ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR; and – BIOL 461 – FORESTRY ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT.

INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES– BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH HONOURS IN APPLIED ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION

• Example of courses taught include the following:– AEC 101 Introduction to Biodiversity; AEC 102 Introduction to Conservation;

Wildlife Biology and Conservation 1;– AEC. 205 Introduction to Natural Resource Economics; AEC. 208

Survey and Monitoring for Biodiversity– AEC. 209 Ornithology; AEC. 212 Mammalogy; AEC. 302 Terrestrial Ecology– AEC. 304 Climate change and conservation; AEC. 307 Biodiversity/Conservation Law– AEC. 309 Animal Behaviour; AEC. 311 Conservation Biology– AEC 314 Forest Ecology & Management*; AEC 315 Habitat Management and

Conservation– AEC 317 Community Conservation & Protected Areas Management 1– AEC 318 Population & Community Ecology; AEC 319 Animal Diversity– GEOG 362 Geographical Information Systems; GEOG 372 Environmental Impact

Assessment – AEC 401 Community Conservation and Protected Area Management II– AEC 402 Ecotourism and Conservation; AEC 403 Human Impact and Conservation– AEC 404 Applied Fisheries Management; AEC 405 Conservation and Management

and– AEC 406 Topics in Applied Ecology & Conservation

INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES– MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

• Example of courses taught include the following:– BC 603 Biodiversity & Systematic

– BC 604 Ecosystem based Management

– BC 605 Ecotourism and Biodiversity Conservation

– BC 606 Behavioural Ecology of Mammals

– BC 607 Restoration Ecology

– BC 608 Biodiversity Economics, Marketing & Trade

– BC 609 Protected Areas Management

– BC 610 Biodiversity Conservation Education

– BC 611 Biodiversity Conservation Laws & Policies

– BC 611 Biodiversity Conservation Laws & Policies

– BC 612 Biodiversity Management & Administration

– BC 613 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and– BC 614 Ethnobotany

INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES–MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION (BIOLOGY

MAJOR) AND MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY• Example of courses taught include the

following:– BIOL 611 Plant Biology– BIOL 661 Behavioural Ecology of Mammals– BIOL 642 Biodiversity and Systematic

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• Climate is integrated in the undergraduate degree curricula, research, consultancy and information collection work of some staff in the Institute of Geography and Development Studies and other departments and institutes in the School of Environmental Sciences. – All undergraduate first year programmes

• Example of courses taught include the following:– GEOG 101: Introduction to Physical Geography (4 Credit Hours)– GEOG 102: Introduction to Human and Regional Geography (4 Credit Hours)– BIOL 642 Biodiversity and Systematic

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• BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH HONOURS IN GEOGRAPHY (B.SC {HONS}, GEOG)

• Example of courses taught include the following:– GEOG 201: Introduction to Environmental Sciences (4 Credit Hours);– GEOG 261b: Landscape Ecology and Biogeography (3 Credit

Hours)**; – GEOG 272: Hydrology and Climatology (3 Credit Hours);– GEOG 282: Geography of West Africa (3 Credit Hours);– GEOG 331: Environmental Impact Assessment (4 Credit Hours);– GEOG 382: Geography of Developing Areas (3 Credit Hours);– GEOG 451: Seminar in Applied Physical Geography (3Credit Hours);

and– GEOG 481: Seminar in Developed Areas (3 Credit Hours).

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• B.SC (HONS) RURAL DEVELOPMENT• Example of courses taught include the following:

– R.DEV 262: Rural Landscape Ecology (3 Credit Hours)**;–R.DEV 372: Water, Sanitation and Health in

Rural Areas (3 Credit Hours)**; and–R.DEV 481: Seminar in Rural Development in

a Developing Area (3 Credit Hours).

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• B.SC (HONS) DEVELOPMENT STUDIES• Example of courses taught include the following:

– DEV 361: Natural Resources for Development (3 Credit Hours)**;–DEV 342: Resource Conservation and

Development (3 Credit Hours)**; and–DEV 451: Seminar in Sustainable

Development (3 Credit Hours).

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• MASTER OF SCIENCE IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT• Example of courses taught include the following:

– R.DEV 641: Land Tenure and Sustainable Development**;–DEV 661: Environmental Appraisal for

Community Development**; and–DEV 622: Ecology, Land Use and Sustainable

Development.

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• MASTER OF SCIENCE IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES• Example of courses taught include the following:

– R.DEV 641: Land Tenure and Sustainable Development**;–DEV 661: Environmental Appraisal for

Community Development**; and–DEV 622: Ecology, Land Use and Sustainable

Development.

INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES cont

• MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION (GEOGRAPHY MAJOR)

• Example of courses taught include the following:– GEOG 652: Directed Readings in Physical Geography (3

Credit hours)**;– GEOG 672: Directed Readings in Environmental Geography

(3 Credit hours)**;– GEOG 631: Physical Geography– GEOG 622: Advance Human Geography– GEOG 632: Advance Physical Geography– and– DEV 622: Ecology, Land Use and Sustainable Development.

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• THE CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION , SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES– Approved by NU Senate in 2011– Funding from US Fish and Wildlife Service

(USWS) to develop a course in biodiversity and conservation, but needs assessment suggested the need for an additional one.

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• Attempt to build multidisciplinary team approach to biodiversity and conservation capacity building at NU’s Schools of Education, Environmental Sciences and Forestry and Horticulture. – Links between local and international scientist/

academics and practionners– Indirectly aimed at building capacity of School of

Forestry and Horticulture at NU.

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• Develop short-term course in conservation and natural resource management within the last two years. – Develop a curriculum in the subject area• First at: (a) non-degree level for research technicians,

field officers and secondary school graduates ‘front line’ workers; and

(b) non-degree level for graduates, middle to senior level project managers, directors – a kind of training of trainers.

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• (a) Non-degree level for research technicians, field officers and secondary school graduates – taught basic modules at NC, NU and practical at Tiwai Island, Pujehun District for one to three weeks for about 18 Sierra Leonean participants in 2012 on a pilot basis

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• (a) Non-degree level for graduates, middle to senior level project managers, directors – In early March 2013 piloted using about 10 academics from NU and six from in-country, West African sub-region and the USA to train 15 Sierra Leoneans and five Liberians.

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–Harmonized curriculum on same subject for teaching and practical at both levels for a month’s non-degree certification of participation.–Assessment includes supervised group

research projects, no tests/examination and graded credits. –Which is now ready for submission to

Senate for approval in late 2013

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– Curriculum includes 10 main courses with at least five modules:• Protected area management; • regional and global conservation; • climate change; • landscape conservation and management; • community livelihood and biodiversity; • eco-tourism and enterprise development;• Conservation project management; • Monitoring assessment and evaluation;• Communication skills; and general administration and leadership

skills.

IMPRESSIONS OF THE STATUS OF AND TRENDS OF BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE IN SIERRA LEONE

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ACTIONS ALREADY TAKING PLACE (IF ANY)

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WHAT ACTIONS MAY BE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS CURRENT TRENDS

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THANK YOU