In his opening speech at the 2015 African Student Conference on Conservation Science, former President of Ghana and current UN Special Envoy of Climate Change, His Excellency John Kufuor, urged delegates to use the conference as a springboard to action: “TBA alumni are a critical part of Africa’s future, and I have high expectations of you. My hope is that on the basis of discussions at this conference, all the conservation biologists gathered here will dig deep into the fountain of knowledge and come up with an action plan of implementing the identified outcomes.”he said.
More than 100 young conservationists from 18 countries met for four days in Ghana, from 9 – 12 June, to discuss solutions to the challenges facing conservation in Africa today. The 2015 conference — organised by the Tropical Biology Association Africa Alumni Group (TAAG) — offers a platform for sharing research impact and developing recommendations for policy.
TBA Director, Rosie Trevelyan told delegates:”I am incredibly proud of all our alumni because of the commitment and passion they show towards conservation both through their own careers and through educating others. I am equally proud of the TAAG for launching the second ever African run student conference on conservation. This is something that is an incredible achievement, not just in Africa but also internationally.”
In his keynote speech on the ‘Status and threats on Africa’s terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity’, Dr. Benjamin A. Gyampoh of the African Academy of Sciences highlighted the crucial importance of African biodiversity. Noting that almost all the ecosystems have been transformed by human action, Dr. Gyampoh remarked that the well trained TBA alumni should take up an active role in addressing the emerging environmental issues.
A report from the Ghana conference is available on the Africa Alumni Group (TAAG) page of this website.
The TAAG was launched in 2013 by the TBA Alumni Groups in Africa, with the support of the TBA.
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