IGCP's training programme in monitoring and surveillance in Rwanda and Zaire
- IGCP is currently developing a protocol for ecological monitoring and surveillance in both PNV, Rwanda and PNVi, Zaire. The protocol forms the basis
of a field-based training programme for park staff and for protected areas authorities management staff.
- The objective is to develop a harmonised monitoring and surveillance programme for all three protected areas which make up the Virunga ecosystem
(MGNP, PNV, PNVi), which would be implemented by the guards and guides of the three parks on a continuous basis. This will enable the continued monitoring of the habitat and key species, including the mountain gorilla, and the evaluation of the effectiveness of protection and management activities.
- At a regional level, it will enable the two protected areas authorities to share data, information, and monitoring and evaluation techniques.
- The training component will be aimed at three levels within the protected areas authorities: data collection, assimilation and analysis of data, and
the incorporation of this information into park management decisions.
- The training programme is based on a training needs assessment (carried out by the PARCS project/WCS in 1992).
- Training will address some of the gaps and specific training needs as identified in the assessment.
- The training programme will be an on-going, continuous process. It will focus on training of trainers within the protected areas authorities.
Training expertise will thus be institutionalized. IGCP will facilitate the programme, in collaboration with the PARCS project implemented by the
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and intervention will be kept to a minimum.
- An on-going monitoring and evaluation programme will evaluate the impact of the training on performance, thus feeding into the on-going training
programme.
- Josh Kalpers (IGCP Programme Director from 1991-95) spent several years working with IZCN and ORTPN before and during the 1994 war in Rwanda. He will
work with IGCP and the protected areas authorities in developing the monitoring and surveillance protocol, and will implement the IGCP training programme
in monitoring and surveillance between April and September 1997 in Rwanda and Zaire.
(With thanks to the PARCS project,
Wildlife Conservation Society and UNHCR
for technical and financial support).
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