Insects, bats, plants, and other ’non-charismatic” groups in conservation practices in Africa – Second Biennial Conservation Biology Conference 

20 – 24 November 2023, Gorongosa N.P.

Applications should be sent to Dr. Kris Bal (krisb@gorongosa.net) before October 5th, 2023. Accepted participants will be offered free accommodation in Gorongosa National Park, and meals for the duration of the workshop. Please note that the conference will be conducted entirely in English and thus English comprehension is required of all participants. 

The BioEducation Program in Gorongosa National Park is organizing the second biennial conservation biology conference for students and young professionals. This year the conference will focus on the taxa that typically receive little attention from conservationists in Africa – insects, bats, plants, and other “non-charismatic” groups. During this 5-day conference, the participants will meet Mozambican and international leaders in conservation of the “neglected taxa” and will have an opportunity to discuss the challenges of including these groups in conservation planning. Additionally, we will work in smaller groups with students from Mozambique and other African countries to discuss possible solutions to the problem of “neglected taxa” in conservation. We will try to find ways to raise awareness about them among conservation practitioners, the general public, and local communities in Africa. We hope that at the end of the conference, we will be able to produce a set of practical, actionable steps to improve the conservation status of the “neglected taxa.”

The conference will take place between 20 and 24 November 2023 in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique. Space is limited and thus we ask you to apply by sending a CV and a cover letter explaining your motivation for participation in this event. Applications should be sent to Dr. Kris Bal (krisb@gorongosa.net) before October 5th, 2023. Accepted participants will be offered free accommodation in Gorongosa National Park, and meals for the duration of the workshop. Please note that the conference will be conducted entirely in English and thus English comprehension is required of all participants.

The conference team has the honour to present the following speakers:

Dr. Merlin Tuttle
Merlin Tuttle is an American ecologist, conservationist, writer, and wildlife photographer who specialises in bat ecology, behaviour, and conservation. He is credited with protecting the Austin Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony from extermination. Tuttle is the founder and executive director of Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation (MTBC) in Texas.

Dr. David L. Wagner
David L. Wagner is an entomologist and a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Connecticut, USA. He is the author of Caterpillars of Eastern North America, widely regarded as one of the most authoritative field guides on caterpillars. He is one of the leaders in insect conservation and the global effort to avert insect decline.

Dr. Matilda Brown
Matilda Brown is a Conservation Science Analyst at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (United Kingdom). Dr Brown is involved in many different research projects across a broad range of questions in conservation science, including the risk and flow-on effects of future plant extinctions, and using machine learning to understand what the fossil record can tell us about the future.

Dr. Perpetra Akite
Perpetra Akite is a professor of zoology at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Her research includes community ecology, entomology, and biodiversity conservation, but she is particularly interested in how insects respond to their environment and how this knowledge can help maintain ecological balance and foster ecosystem resilience while meeting ever-increasing human needs.

About Gorongosa Biodiversity Science Education Program
The Gorongosa Biodiversity Science Education Program (BioEd) is an integral part of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Laboratory at Gorongosa National Park. Our objective is to mentor Mozambican students, biologists, and conservation leaders in conservation research through hands-on capacity-building workshops, research fellowships, and higher education opportunities, including the Gorongosa Master’s in Conservation Biology Program. BioEd seeks to develop individual Mozambican students, researchers, university faculty and technicians in ecological research and monitoring, conservation biology, sustainable development, adaptive management, and related skills. Through outreach and education, BioEd also aims to increase the capacity of Mozambican educational institutions to train biologists. The overarching goal of BioEd is to contribute to a secure future for conservation in Mozambique. Learn more at gorongosa.org.