Databases to support Decision Making - Biodiversity Conservation
*********************************************************************
REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON THE USE OF DATABASES TO SUPPORT
DECISION MAKING IN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN EAST AFRICA
NAIROBI, 28 June 1996 -- The United Nations Environment
Programme's (UNEP) Environmental Natural Resource
Information Network Programme (ENRIN) hosted a
two-day Regional Workshop on the Use of Databases to
support Decision Making in Biodiversity Conservation in
East Africa, here on 27 and 28 June 1996.
Mr. Takahiko Hiraishi, Assistant Executive Director,
UNEP Division of Environmental Information and
Assessment, delivered the welcoming address to
60 participants from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The
key-note address was given by Mr. Paul Chabeda,
Programme Officer, UNEP Biodiversity Unit. Mr.
John Githae, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Environment and
Natural Resources, Kenya, delivered the Workshop's opening
statement.
Under the project "Institutional Support for the Protection
of East African Biodiversity", financed by the Global
Environment Facility (GEF), and executed by the Food
and Agricultural Organization (FAO), UNEP has been
implementing the component involving Biodiversity
Database Capability Development.
The Workshop was designed specifically for
Decision-makers and technical resource managers to
provide a forum to explore practical ways of
strengthening linkages between database development
activities and decision making processes in biodiversity
conservation in East Africa through the use of
environmental information services at the national and
regional levels.
More specific objectives were to: demonstrate and review
project progress regarding biodiversity database
development activities of the collaborating
institutions in East Africa; exchange experiences of
database development for biodiversity conservation in
East Africa, with particular focus on how
environmental issues are presented to and addressed by
databases; identify the information needs of decision
makers, including minimum data sets,formats and outputs
required for planning purposes; determine the placements,
potential uses, and linkages for database development
in environmental agencies; and plan for development of a
regional biodiversity database in East Africa.
The biodiversity database development capability
component has been implemented within the overall
framework of the ENRIN Africa Programme.
The ENRIN Programme has, within the period of October
1993 - June 1996, provided technical and project
development support to the national cooperating
institutions in the three countries, namely
the National Environment Secretariat, Kenya; National
Environment Management Council, Tanzania; the National
Environment Information Centre, the Forestry
Department and Makerere University Institute of
Environment and Natural Resources, Uganda. Specific
support has included planning, basic and
operational training, provision of appropriate
hardware and software, technical assistance with
implementation of pilot project activities,
facilitating study tours, workshops and seminars. This
Workshop was the final meeting of this component of the
GEF Project.
For further information:
Mr. Kagumaho Kakuyo
Regional Coordinator, ENRIN _ Africa
Environment Information Networking/DEIA
UNEP, P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi, KENYA
Tel: (254-2) 623513 or 624234 Fax: (254-2) 623943 /4
Telex: 22068 UNEP KE
E-Mail: Bob.KaKuyo@unep.org
Web: http://www.unep.org
or
Beth Ingraham (Ms.) ingrahab@unep.org
or infotinf@unep.org
Information Officer
INFOTERRA/PAC, UNEP
P.O. Box 47074, Nairobi INFOTERRA/PAC
Kenya The Global
Environmental
Tel:(254-2) 624299; Information Exchange
Fax: (254-2)624269 or 226949 Network
BACK TO
*********************************************************************