A new paper titled “Genetic connectivity and historical demography of the blue barred parrotfish (Scarus ghobban) in the western Indian Ocean” has recently been published in Marine Biology Journal. This paper is one of the products from the MASMA-funded project “Genetic Connectivity and its Implication for the Design and Management of Marine Protected Areas in the East African Eco-region”. Below is the abstract of the paper  

Studies on genetic connectivity are essential for the design of management strategies for coral reef fisheries. In this study we used a mitochondrial DNA marker to investigate population structure of the reef-associated parrotfish, Scarus ghobban, from four countries, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles and Tanzania, in the western Indian Ocean. We obtained nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial control region for 117 individuals. Measures of haplotype diversity were relatively high. Pairwise population differentiation (FST) was low, but not always non-significant. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed genetic differentiation between groups, when the data was partitioned into two groups consisting of samples from Mauritius and Tanzania in one group, and samples from Kenya and Seychelles in another group. Direction of gene flow was estimated using a Bayesian approach. Migration was sometimes asymmetric or directional, coinciding with the flow of major oceanic and coastal currents in the region. Mismatch distributions, based on the observed number of differences among haplotype pairs, produced a unimodal distribution, indicative of recent demographic expansion. Phylogenetic analyses revealed three clades without any geographic structure, suggesting recent migration between historically isolated lineages. We reconstructed the historical demography of S. ghobban and examined it in the context of Pleistocene climate stages and changes in relative sea level. Overall, these results showed that populations of S. ghobban are genetically diverse and have relatively high gene flow, with some genetic structuring in the western Indian Ocean.

A £50 million (US$77 million) programme to help developing countries navigate the challenges of climate change began last week (11 March) with the announcement of the consortium that will oversee it.

An alliance led by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the giant professional services firm, will run the Climate and Development Knowledge Network, which is funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) for five years.

The network aims to help 60 developing countries access and share scientific information on the best way of tackling problems caused by climate change, and commission research. DFID said it will provide policymakers in developing countries with direct access to leading climate change experts.

Read the full article from: http://www.scidev.net/en/news/policymakers-to-get-hotline-to-climate-experts.html

The Nairobi Convention Secretariat is currently preparing for the Sixth Conference of Parties (COP-6) to the Nairobi Convention which will be held at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Headquarters at Gigiri in Nairobi, Kenya, from 29 March to 1 April 2010. The COP-6 is organised by UNEP in close collaboration with the Government of Kenya-the host and the Government of Mauritius as the Chair of the Bureau of the Nairobi Convention. The theme of the Sixth Conference of Parties (COP-6) is Sustaining Progress.

The Conference of Plenipotentiaries and COP-6 meeting is a defining moment for the Convention, as the meeting is expected to achieve the following:
a) adopt the Amended Nairobi Convention; 
b) adopt the LBSA Protocol;
c) endorse the Strategic Action Programme for the Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment in the Western Indian Ocean from Land- based Sources and Activities (SAP); and
d) endorse the process for developing a new long term action strategy that will replace the 1985 Eastern Africa Action Plan.

For more information about the forthcoming COP-6 and the instruments that will be adopted, please visit http://www.unep.org/NairobiConvention/

Universal endorsement for “exemplary” integrated approach to population, health and conservation

19th March 2010

LONDON Blue Ventures’ integrated approach to population health and conservation has received universal endorsement at an international policy symposium.

“If we are to improve health  in poor communities, it is critical that we look at conservation and livelihoods”, key note speaker, UCL’s Professor Anthony Costello told delegates at the meeting organised by the Population and Sustainability Network.

Professor Costello, who chairs The Lancet’s climate change and health commission, said: “The work of Blue Ventures in tackling marine conservation in Madagascar is exemplary in this regard.”

The symposium heard that Blue Ventures’ offers of support to a vulnerable coastal community in south west Madagascar have been enthusiastically received by villagers seeking to build their communities’ resilience and adaptability to climate change.

Sea level rise and temperature-related coral-bleaching have rendered ancient fishing practices ineffective at feeding the rapidly growing local population in Andavadoaka. An influx of migrants using destructive fishing practices has added to pressure on fish stocks.

In this area of rural Madagascar women have their first child in their early teens. Family sizes far exceed the national average of 5, and are estimated at 12 children per family. Syphilis and gonorrhea are rife and there was little awareness of the need for protection from STIs.

Women keen to access contraceptive services faced a 50 km trek through a spiny forest to the nearest clinic.

With support from Marie Stopes International, Blue Ventures responded to the desire for better reproductive choices and piloted a powerful, cheap, grassroots solution – a local barefoot family planning clinic.

Project director Dr Vik Mohan spoke of the success of this integrated approach to the challenges posed by climate change, population growth and unsustainable resource use. He received universal support at the symposium.

 ”Leaders in the field of population dynamics, reproductive health and rights, and climate change gave the project a very warm reception”, says Dr Mohan.    

“This lends weight to our belief that this integrated approach to reproductive rights, health and conservation is a key method of adapting to climate change.”  

Karen Hardee, Vice President of Research at Population Action International, agrees: “Blue Ventures has shown that programming that meets the expressed needs of communities, including for reproductive health and family planning as well as livelihoods, is well received and improves lives.

“The Madagascar Family Planning Project offers a strong model for strengthening resilience and helping the most affected countries adapt to the effects of climate change”.

Kenya’s minister of medical services, Hon Prof Peter Anyang Nyong’o and Uganda’s minister for finance and planning Hon Prof Ephraim Kamuntu spoke of the need for this type of “holistic” approach to be piloted and rigorously evaluated, to assess its applicability around the world.

A young British Conservationist has won an international award for helping to create a new model of community-run Marine Protected Areas, which both saves marine diversity and helps to feed marine dependent communities.

Alasdair Harris, 30, was selected as winner of the 2010 Young Conservationist Award, an award by the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and the International Ranger Federation which honours outstanding achievements by young people in the world’s protected areas.

Read the full article from: http://www.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/wcpa_focus/?4785/Coastal-Conservation-offers-survival-for-the-poor

Many in the popular press and other media, as well as some in the halls of Congress, are seizing on a few errors that have been found in the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in an attempt to discredit the entire report.  None of the handful of mis-statements (out of hundreds and hundreds of unchallenged statements) remotely undermines the conclusion that “warming of the climate system is unequivocal” and that most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-twentieth century is very likely due to observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations. Despite its excellent performance for accurately reporting the state-of-the-science, we certainly acknowledge that the IPCC should become more forthcoming in openly acknowledging errors in a timely fashion, and continuing to improve its assessment procedures to further lower the already very low rate of error.

Read the full letter from: http://www.openletterfromscientists.com/

The African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) Fellowships

2010 CALL for APPLICATIONS

In mid January, AWARD excitedly announced its first call  for the 2010 AWARD Fellowships to fast track the careers of African women scientists in the NARS, higher education research and education institutions, the NGO community and private sector institutions who are in professions that serve agricultural research and development, especially for pro-poor innovation.  I am writing this special note to you to ask you to encourage as many women in your institution and network to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.  

The fellowships are open to African women working in agricultural research and development from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia who have completed a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in selected disciplines.  Applicants must be nationals of the above listed countries and be available in Africa throughout the fellowship period.

We deeply appreciate your support and hope that you will share this announcement as widely as possible to enable as many women scientists as possible on the continent to benefit from this opportunity.

The deadline for all applications is March 22, 2010.

Details and application forms can be downloaded here, plus answers to frequently asked questions:

http://www.genderdiversity.cgiar.org/resource/award.asp

http://fellowsupdate.wordpress.com 

Application forms can also be obtained by writing to AWARDFellows@cgiar.org

Please help us spread the word about this unique opportunity to qualified African women whom you know by forwarding this email and/or printing and posting the attached announcement.

All queries should be sent to AWARDFellows@cgiar.org

Closing Date: 30 December 2010

Applications for IFS Research Grants are welcome from young scientists in developing countries to do research on the sustainable management, use or conservation of biological or water resources. This broad statement covers natural science and social science research on agriculture, soils, animal production, food science, forestry, agroforestry, aquatic resources, natural products, water resources, etc.

Applications are accepted all year and are to be made on an IFS Application Form. Read more detail in the links below:

http://www.ifs.se/Programme/eligibility.asp

http://www.ifs.se/Forms/how_to_apply.asp

http://www.ifs.se/Forms/list_of_all_forms.asp

Application Procedure
Please go to: http://www.ifs.se/Forms/list_of_all_forms.asp

Contact Details
Please go to: http://www.ifs.se/Forms/how_to_apply.asp

Eligibility Criteria:
http://www.ifs.se/Programme/eligibility.asp