This workshop, as part of the BID programme, 'The Forgotten African Islands - Addressing the gap in freshwater biodiversity knowledge for the Indian Ocean Islands', will focus on addressing the gap in freshwater biodiversity information for region, facilitating training, capacity building and networking. Hosted by Ground Truth in collaboration with the Madagascar Biodiversity Centre and the University of Toamasina, the event material was aimed at partners to the project from the Indian Ocean Islands.
Held over four days from the 16th-20th of July 2018, this workshop covered:
- An introduction to the AFRESH network and regional representatives.
- Networking opportunities for the scientists and students involved with freshwater ecology to share knowledge and gather/collate information related to the Indian Ocean Islands.
- Dissemination of material and information from the GBIF BID Capacity Enhancement Workshops to project partners.
- Training on freshwater ecology research progress, importance of EPT taxa, freshwater research priorities and data needs in the region.
- An update of the project's progress, objectives and plan for the next stages of the project.
- Facilitation training (both theoretical and applied) for project partners, students and researchers.
- Training in the application of citizen science data for freshwater monitoring, identification of EPT taxa and diatoms.
- Development of a framework for long-term freshwater monitoring in the region.
- Planning of a citizen science event on enhancing freshwater biodiversity/ecosystem health and awareness to generate new species data.