3 ERuDeF Biological Team Trained On Apes Data Collection
Three ERuDeF Biological staff recently received a two-day training on the collection and assembling of great apes data in the forest.
Michael St. Germain, the Biological Project Supervisor of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, gave the training during his visit to the Lebialem Highlands from January 9 to 15.
Allen Tabi, Asoh Bedwin (staff of ERuDeF) and Grace Niba (a trainee from the Institute of Biodiversity and Nonprofit studies IBiNS) acquired enough skills that would permit them collect more quality data, summarize them more properly to bring out key indicators that would inform stakeholders and policy makers and also share their findings with the rest of the science world.
During the working session with the biological team, Michael taught them on the various methods of data management, setting up of camera traps and data management from the cameras. Afterwards, Michael and the team went to the proposed Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary where they planted four cameras for a test phase using opportunistic spots added to the field guide’s knowledge of frequently used trails.
After three days in the field, Michael returned with new ideas of pushing the cooperation between his university and IBiNS.
Reacting to the training, Bedwin said: “I feel privileged to have been a part of this training and I really want to thank Michael for taking out time to build our capacity. During our regular bio-monitoring, we have on several occasions sighted the elusive Cross River gorillas but have hardly been able to capture them in our cameras. With this training and the installation of the cameras in the forest, I believe we will have more quality data.”
It worthy of note that it is thanks to increased cooperation ties between US Charity Trees for the Future Cameroon and ERuDeF that the biological team benefited from this capacity building. Michael St. Germain accompanied the Cameroon Program Desk Coordinator of Trees for the Future and a professor from Virginia Tech doing research on agro-forestry, John Munsell, during the last visit to Cameroon in January 2014 to evaluate Trees for the Future’s activities in Cameroon.
