Research Reports

Research Goals of the BEATRA Program

Basic Training in Conservation Biology and the Monitoring of Biological Diversity
The BEATRA field-training program targets technical staff from CRSN, CRH, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, and qualified college and university students from Bukavu. Training involves both class and field work over a one-month period. Some materials have been chosen based on experiences gained from other collaborative Field Msueum training programs including, the ATBP program (A collaborative training program between The Field Museum and Makeree University in Uganda) and the Chicago-based Conservation Training Consortium Program. Emphasis is placed on skills related to monitoring and documenting diversity of mammals, birds, plants, and aquatic systems. Additional training includes data analysis and preparation of project reports, theses, and scientific publications. The program is taught at CRSN or CRH; however, and field components take place at sites that are logistically feasible. The inaugural 2001 field season was conducted on Idjwi Island in Lake Kivu. The 2002 season was split between Lake Tanganyika (for aquatics) and the forest of Mugeri Semniary for terrestrial groups. Top participants will be selected for additional training on conducting biotic inventories and for further training in Chicago.

The 2003 training program was taught entirely by staff from the collaborating Congolese institutions because of regional instability. In many ways, this represents an important step forward as peace finally may be coming to the region. Radar Nishuli of ICCN served as coordinator and for the first time the fieldwork for the terrestrial portion of the field course was conducted in Kahuzi-Biega National Park. The aquatic training was conducted again on Lake Tanganyika near CRH, Uvira.

Photos of the 2001, 2002 and 2003 field seasons.

Graduate Programs for study of Albertine Rift Biodiversity at Makerere University, Kampala. Uganda.
As part of a sister grant from the MacArthur Foundation, The Field Museum collaborates with three departments of Makerere University, the Department of Botany, the Department of Zoology and the Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (MUIENR) to support 10 graduate students from Albertine Rift countries. Five of these students are working for their Ph.D.s, and five are working for their Masters of Science degrees. These students started their programs at Makerere University in the fall of 2001. They include three Congolese from the Bukavu area.

Continue to Learn about Research Projects

Technical Support
webmaster@fieldmuseum.org