Download TAAG Book of Abstracts - Tropical Biology Association

TBA African Alumni Group
Tropical Biology Association African Alumni Group (TAAG) is an association of African biologists and
conservationists who are alumni of the Tropical Biology Association (TBA). The focus of the group is to
facilitate a forum for the members to have a real impact on biodiversity conservation in their own countries
and Africa at large.
The idea to form TAAG was conceived in June 2011when a number of TBA alumni met in Amani, Tanzania for
a TBA specialist training workshop on understanding and valuing ecosystem services. The workshop was
sponsored by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) fund for conservation and BAT Biodiversity
Partnership. During this workshop, the alumni present shared a dream of organizing a conference to bring
TBA African alumni together, and possibly form an umbrella alumni group that will unite all the TBA African
alumni.
The initial aims of TAAG were to:
1. Share knowledge from research and work experience and build capacity in conservation challenges
for the next generation.
2. Generate a synergy of ideas, networks, opportunities and proactive action to solve real world
conservation challenges in Africa
3. Serve as a voice for conservation biologists in Africa, shaping policy and trailblazing the frontiers of
research for the benefit of biodiversity and humanity.
TAAG Conference
The TAAG conference is uniquely designed and organized by vibrant TBA African alumni with the view of
building the capacity of the next generation of biologists and conservationists. The conference is aimed at
bringing together like-minded young African ecologists and conservationists to share their research findings
and make valuable contacts across countries. The conference is designed to fit into the TBA alumni career
interests. The conference approach entails plenary sessions for oral as well as poster presentations, group
discussions, and training workshops. Based on country case studies, the forum will facilitate discussions
aimed at providing solutions to current issues facing conservation of the threatened African biodiversity.
Plenary speakers share practical conservation experiences from African countries in relation to each of the
day’s conference theme.
TAAG First African Student’s Conference, Nairobi. 2-4 July, 2013 5