CLIMATE AND BIODIVERSITY
AT NJALA UNIVERSITY
SIERRA 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)].
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITY Cont
• Chapter V, Section 14 (2)
established the Schools of
Forestry and Silviculture,
Environmental Sciences
among others.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITY Cont
• 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.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITY Cont
• 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:
–
–
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–
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
–
BC 605
Ecotourism and Biodiversity Conservation
–
BC 606
Behavioural Ecology of Mammals
–
BC 607 Restoration Ecology
–
BC 608
–
BC 609
–
BC 610
–
BC 611
Biodiversity Conservation Laws & Policies
–
BC 611
Biodiversity Conservation Laws & Policies
–
BC 612
Biodiversity Management & Administration
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–
BC 613
BC 614
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and
Ethnobotany
Ecosystem based Management
Biodiversity Economics, Marketing & Trade
Protected Areas Management
Biodiversity Conservation Education
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
INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE
OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES cont
• 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
INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE
OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES cont
• 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).
INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE
OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES cont
• 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).
–
INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE
OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES cont
• 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).
–
INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE
OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES cont
• 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.
–
INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE
OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES cont
• 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:
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–
–
–
–
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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.
INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE
OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES cont
• 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.
INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE
OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES cont
• 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.
INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE
OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES cont
• 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.
INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE
OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES cont
•
(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
INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE
OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES cont
• (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 subregion and the USA to train 15 Sierra
Leoneans and five Liberians.
INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE
OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES cont
– 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
INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE
OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES cont
– Curriculum includes 10 main courses with at least
five modules:
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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
•
ACTIONS ALREADY TAKING PLACE (IF ANY)
•
WHAT ACTIONS MAY BE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS
CURRENT TRENDS
•
THANK YOU