The potential key role for promoting the use of Biodiversity Information Standards by a consortium of research institutions in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Central Africa.
Charles Kahindo, Dudu Akaibe, Upoki Agenong’a, Ulyel Ali-Pato, Patricia Mergen, Michel Louette, Erik Verheyen, Jérôme Degreef
Abstract
Research institutions in Africa can achieve the goal of efficient biodiversity information sharing and a number of benefits could be generated. As centers of knowledge such institutions play, now as before, a key role in generating and applying knowledge for economic growth and local development.
Many African universities and research centers perform well, despite the challenge of limited funding by initiating revitalization programs, but the role of international support is of paramount importance in the present context.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), five collaborating institutions have been identified, based on geographical location, historical background, infrastructure, networking and resource availability. This consortium includes two universities and three research centers:
- Kisangani University is one of the three leading universities in DRC. Created in 1963, its specific focus is on training and research in biological fields, for which it is the leading facility in the country.
- Bukavu State University was founded in 1993 as a branch of Kisangani University; but expanded rapidly and developed into an autonomous university, recruiting students in the far east of the country.
- Created in 1935, the National Agricultural Research Center at Yangambi, located in the eastern part of the Congo Forest block near Kisangani, was once the biggest agricultural research center in sub-Saharan Africa. The largest herbarium collection of tropical Africa is hosted in Yangambi and collection is still in good condition for future botanical research.
- The National Research Center in Natural Science of Lwiro, located in Eastern Congo, 40 km north of Bukavu, was created in 1947. It was meant to be a reference research station in Central Africa for natural science studies especially biodiversity surveys, seismology, documentation and tropical medicine. It holds important biological collections.
- The Hydrobiology Research Centre of Uvira, located at the extreme northwestern end of the Lake Tanganyika, was created in 1949 by the colonial power in order to carry out research activities in biology and ecology on Lake Tanganyika.
The newly-elected DRC government recognizes scientific research as a necessity for improving human conditions. It supports the cultural and economic development of small entities and would welcome support in the field of biodiversity information access and exchange for consideration when resolving biodiversity problems and issues.
A TDWG initiative to stimulate the role of the eastern DRC research institutions in this field would encourage and facilitate their interaction with local, national and international stakeholders. It would also ensure continued research and public access to the most current research materials from one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.
In our presentation we give a detailed overview of the resources available in this region and the initiatives we are undertaking in collaboration with local, Belgian and other international partners.
Many African universities and research centers perform well, despite the challenge of limited funding by initiating revitalization programs, but the role of international support is of paramount importance in the present context.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), five collaborating institutions have been identified, based on geographical location, historical background, infrastructure, networking and resource availability. This consortium includes two universities and three research centers:
- Kisangani University is one of the three leading universities in DRC. Created in 1963, its specific focus is on training and research in biological fields, for which it is the leading facility in the country.
- Bukavu State University was founded in 1993 as a branch of Kisangani University; but expanded rapidly and developed into an autonomous university, recruiting students in the far east of the country.
- Created in 1935, the National Agricultural Research Center at Yangambi, located in the eastern part of the Congo Forest block near Kisangani, was once the biggest agricultural research center in sub-Saharan Africa. The largest herbarium collection of tropical Africa is hosted in Yangambi and collection is still in good condition for future botanical research.
- The National Research Center in Natural Science of Lwiro, located in Eastern Congo, 40 km north of Bukavu, was created in 1947. It was meant to be a reference research station in Central Africa for natural science studies especially biodiversity surveys, seismology, documentation and tropical medicine. It holds important biological collections.
- The Hydrobiology Research Centre of Uvira, located at the extreme northwestern end of the Lake Tanganyika, was created in 1949 by the colonial power in order to carry out research activities in biology and ecology on Lake Tanganyika.
The newly-elected DRC government recognizes scientific research as a necessity for improving human conditions. It supports the cultural and economic development of small entities and would welcome support in the field of biodiversity information access and exchange for consideration when resolving biodiversity problems and issues.
A TDWG initiative to stimulate the role of the eastern DRC research institutions in this field would encourage and facilitate their interaction with local, national and international stakeholders. It would also ensure continued research and public access to the most current research materials from one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.
In our presentation we give a detailed overview of the resources available in this region and the initiatives we are undertaking in collaboration with local, Belgian and other international partners.