Specialist Courses

TBA specialist courses provide conservation and research institutions with tailor-made training to fill specific skills gaps they have identified as priority.
Strengthening Organisations and their Members

Bespoke Training Led by Conservation Experts

TBA specialist courses provide tailor-made training for conservation and research organisations to fill skills gaps they identify as priority. Our expert trainers and innovative methods give professionals new skills and knowledge which can be applied immediately so that their projects and programmes have more impact on the ground.

Crucially, TBA specialist courses train trainers, resulting in successive generations of conservation managers with new skills and knowledge. Take a look at the following popular course topics, or contact us to discuss your specific training needs.

Courses Portfolio
Current Courses
Specialist Course Member

“It is the most productive training I have ever attended.”

The tangible impact of our specialist courses is an increase in the effectiveness of individual conservationists and a strengthening of the organisations where they work. Our courses are taught by experts from both the host region and other parts of the world, and we provide follow-up support, which means that we can measure how new skills are applied. Participants value joining an active network of practitioners working on related projects.

conservation field training in Africa

Partnerships

All our courses are run in partnership with host country organisations, who bring local conservation expertise.
conservation field training in Africa

Meeting The Demand

There is a growing demand for TBA courses from a wide range of conservation organisations. Our courses are designed to meet specific needs to increase the capacity of managers and institutions.
conservation field training in Africa

Tailored and Targeted

Priority issues, innovative learning, expert-led
result in immediate impact. We design our specialist courses to meet your needs.

African conservation fieldwork sample collection
What We Offer

A Broad Range of Courses

We design our specialist courses to meet your needs. Our courses cover a broad range of topics which can help improve individual fieldwork skills through as well as assist at high levels of organisations with areas such as fundraising.
Courses Portfolio
Bespoke Training & Consultancy

Leading The Way

The TBA corporate training programme brings the concepts of sustainability, climate change and biodiversity to life for senior executives and field staff. We put sustainability plans into a practical context through innovative training in tropical forests, making the science accessible, relevant, and interesting. Drawing on over 20 years of experience in teaching tailor-made training programmes in the field, TBA is uniquely positioned to equip staff with the knowledge and real-world experience needed to help companies deliver their sustainability plans.
Information for Organisations
“BAT found working with TBA to be an incredibly valuable experience – one that stretched over 15 years. They brought insights and challenge to the table and always made sure that our joint projects delivered a tangible impact on the ground.”

Jennie Galbraith
Head of Sustainability and Reputation Management, Legal and, External Affairs, British American Tobacco.

Collaborating With Agricultural Industry

Biodiversity Risk And Opportunity Assessment

TBA developed the Biodiversity Risk and Opportunity Assessment (BROA) Tool specifically for helping agribusiness and promoting sustainable agriculture. BROA provides a straightforward means of assessing and identifying a company’s impacts and dependencies on nature, including biodiversity and ecosystem services.

The main outcome of BROA is a clear set of action and monitoring plans to avert risks to the environment and to maximise opportunities for conservation and business. Companies use these plans to help create a more sustainable supply chain and a healthier environment.

Through a 15-year partnership with British American Tobacco’s (BAT), TBA helped guide the company to lighten its impact on nature and create a more sustainable future for its small-holder farmers. The BROA tool was adopted by BAT and implemented globally across its farming areas. In Uganda, TBA’s application of the BROA tool identified activities on farmland, which were degrading ecosystem services and threatening sustainability of farmland. Issues detected included:

  • reduced irrigation flow resulting from catchment deforestation
  • reduced water quality due to loss of riverine buffer zones
  • lowered ground water table
  • unsustainably sourced fuelwood in the supply chain
  • poor soil organic matter management
  • negative impacts of agricultural intensification
Conservation group taking samples in Uganda
Conservation In Action

Working with agribusiness TBA has:

  • set aside 2,000 ha of native forest in Uganda under sustainable management
  • restored riverine forest to prevent soil erosion, conserved critical habitat and improved river health
  • mitigated soil erosion and improved soil quality through planting new species and multi cropping
  • decreased use of chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides) on farmland
  • developed agroforestry and tree nurseries
  • trained communities to build fuel efficient stove
Ugandan farmer
Conservation In Action

Fuel-Efficient Stoves

TBA and Tree Talk, a local NGO, trained young farmers to build fuel-efficient stoves, thereby equipping them with the necessary skills to earn an income as energy service providers. As a result, fuelwood usage was reduced by as much as 50% in 2 years. This significantly reduced pressure on native forests as well as decreasing air pollution in homes. There was also a significant improvement in women’s well-being through better cooking technology and reduced reliance on native fuel wood.

“We are benefiting from the energy saving stoves because there is improved hygiene due to reduced harmful smoke released during cooking,”
Fiona Ovugi from Aboke Village in Kole district.