The Climate Change and African Political Stability (CCAPS) program will offer up to three pre-doctoral fellowships for the 2011-2012 academic year. The CCAPS pre-doctoral fellowship program aims to stimulate the development of the next generation of researchers and thought leaders on the topic of climate change and political stability in Africa.

Pre-doctoral fellows are encouraged to present their research within and outside the Center, collaborate on papers or projects with other fellows and faculty, participate in the research activities of CCAPS, attend and take an active role in CCAPS and Strauss Center seminars and conferences, and immerse themselves in the greater University community during their appointment.

ELIGIBILITY

Pre-doctoral fellowships are available to advanced PhD students, with preference given to those who have made substantial progress towards the completion of their dissertation. Pre-doctoral fellows are expected to work on — and ideally complete — their doctoral dissertations during the fellowship.

CCAPS invites applications from all disciplines, including both the social and natural sciences, as they pertain to relevant topics to the CCAPS program (see Areas of Research below). CCAPS encourages applications from women, minorities, and citizens of all countries.
AREAS OF RESEARCH

The Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law at the University of Texas at Austin is a nonpartisan research center that engages the best minds in academia, government, and the private sector to develop unique, policy-relevant solutions to complex global challenges. The Strauss Center’s program on Climate Change and African Political Stability conducts research in three core areas seeking to: investigate where and how climate change poses threats to stability in Africa, identify strategies to support accountable and effective governance in Africa, and evaluate the effectiveness of international aid to help African societies adapt to climate change.

CCAPS will consider applicants working on a broad range of topics related to climate change, political stability, and security in Africa. Suitable topics may include, but are not limited to:

Climate change vulnerability in Africa

Potential impacts of climate change on political stability or security in Africa Strategies for addressing climate change challenges in Africa

STIPEND INFORMATION

CCAPS offers pre-doctoral fellowships in residence at the University of Texas at Austin for one year (September 2011-May 2012). The fellowship includes a nine-month stipend of $24,000 and one round-trip airline ticket.

Applicants should note that the stipend awarded might not cover all living costs in Austin during the fellowship period. Applicants should be prepared to cover any additional expenses themselves or through other external funding sources. Applicants who must obtain a J1 visa in order to participate in the fellowship are required to provide proof of health insurance when applying for the J1 visa. The CCAPS fellowship does not provide health insurance.

 FURTHER DETAILS AND APPLICATION FORMS AVAILABLE AT – <http://ccaps.strausscenter.org/fellowship_announcement>http://ccaps.strausscenter.org/fellowship_announcement

Changes in an East African social-ecological seagrass system: invertebrate harvesting affecting species composition and local livelihood – by Lina Mtwana Nordlund

Seagrass meadows support high biodiversity and are important for invertebrate harvesting activities in developing countries. The aim of this study was to estimate the social and ecological effects of invertebrate harvesting, i.e. how this exploitation may affect/has affected seagrass variables, macrofaunal community structure, the use and importance of these resources for the livelihood of local people over time.

A multi-disciplinary approach was used, including interviews with harvesters, observations of the number/activities of invertebrate harvesters, and a biological field study in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The study showed that women/children harvest invertebrates, and they prefer large seagrass patches, high to medium shoot density, and high seagrass cover. All interviewees said they had noticed a decline in seagrass distribution over the last decade, >20% considered it a large decline. Interviewees also reported decreased numbers of animals, but no change in the number of animal species over the last decade.

The main reasons for the decline of seagrass and animals according to interviewees, are an increase in the number of harvesters, and a change in attitude, i.e. people being less careful about the intertidal zone and seagrasses. Invertebrate harvesting was found important for food security and provision of cash income. The current average catch weight was ca. 2 kg/collection day/person, and 3 kg and 5 kg, 5-10 and 30 years ago respectively according to interviewees. At present, the harvesting women earn ca 60-70% and ca 40% of what they would have if catches were the same sizes as they were 5-10 and 30 years ago respectively, according to our calculations.

The field sampling within seagrass beds showed that an inaccessible/remote site had significantly higher invertebrate abundance and species richness/diversity than an exploited site (ANOVA). Multivariate statistics further revealed weak but significant differences for animal abundance and biomass between these sites. By combining findings from both interviews and field sampling this study shows that invertebrate harvesters can influence macrofaunal community structure in seagrass meadows, which in turn results in negative impacts on local harvesters’ economy and livelihood.

Lina Nordlund, Johan Erlandsson, Maricela de la Torre-Castro and Narriman Jiddawi, 2010: Changes in an East African social-ecological seagrass system: invertebrate harvesting affecting species composition and local livelihood. Aquatic Living Resources 23, 399-416 Abstract

More information contact: linanordlund@gmail.com

The former Vice President of WIOMSA and the Director of the Mauritius Oceanography Institute (MOI), Dr Mitrasen Bhikajee, has been appointed the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO with effect from 1 April 2011.

On behalf of the WIOMSA Board of Trustees and on my own behalf, I wish to extend our congratulation to him for this appointment. This is not only a personal achievement to Dr Bhikajee but also to the WIO region as a whole.

Download the full announcement

The Ocean Data and Information Network for Africa (ODINAFRICA), in collaboration with the Centre de Recherche Océanographique de Dakar Thiaroye  (CRODT) and the Direction des Pêches Maritimes (DPM) have the pleasure to announce the ODINAFRICA Scientific Symposium that will be held in Saly, Senegal from 4 – 6 October 2011.

The symposium will be followed by a workshop for the Head’s of Institutions that are part of the ODINAFRICA network on 7 October 2011 at the same venue.

Download the full announcement from www.wiomsa.net/images/stories/ODINAFRICA_Symposium_Announcement.pdf

Wildlife Conservation Society researchers urge protection and management for Indian Ocean coral reefs most likely to persist into future

Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society have developed a “stress test” for coral reefs as a means of identifying and prioritizing areas that are most likely to survive bleaching events and other climate change factors. The researchers say that these “reefs of hope” are priorities for national and international management and conservation action.

The test is a model that looks at environmental factors that stress corals – mainly from rising sea temperatures – and how these stresses affect overall coral and fish diversity. The results will help conservationists and managers identify reef systems most likely to survive over the next 50 years.

The study appears in the online edition of Global Change Biology. The authors include Tim R. McClanahan, Joseph M. Maina, and Nyawira A. Muthiga of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

The model uses layers of historical data, satellite imagery, and field observations to produce a composite map on the status of reefs in the western Indian Ocean, in addition to an index of coral communities, their diversity, and their susceptibility to bleaching.

The study encompasses a wide swath of the western Indian Ocean, ranging from the Maldives to South Africa, an area already heavily impacted by bleaching events and coral mortality.

The model identified the coastal regions stretching from southern Kenya to northern Mozambique, northeastern Madagascar, the Mascarene Islands, and the coastal border of Mozambique and South Africa as having the most promising characteristics of high diversity and low environmental stress.

The authors say these biologically diverse and hardy reefs are therefore a priority for implementing management that will reduce human impacts and stresses, while alternative strategies for adaptation are necessary in areas with lower chances of long-term survival.

“The future is going to be more stressful for marine ecosystems, and coral and their dependent species top the list of animals that are going to feel the heat of climate warming,” said Dr. McClanahan, the study’s lead author and WCS Senior Conservationist. “The study provides us with hope and a map to identify conservation and management priorities where it is possible to buy some time for these important ecosystems until the carbon emissions problems have been solved.”

The coral reefs of the western Indian Ocean represent a significant portion of the overall biodiversity of tropical reef systems worldwide.

The western Indian Ocean also represents a crucial testing ground for management responses to climate-driven events such as coral bleaching. For instance, an estimated 45 percent of living coral was killed during 1998′s warm temperature anomaly.

Caleb McClennen, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Marine Program, said: “Reducing human impacts to minimize the multiple stressors on these globally important reefs will give corals a fighting chance in the age of global climate change. These results reveal a window of opportunity for the future conservation of the ocean’s most biodiverse ecosystem.”

###

From Fiji to Glover’s Reef, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and The Tiffany & Co. Foundation have provided critical support for Dr. McClanahan’s research, which examines the climate change effects, ecology, fisheries, and management of coral reefs at key sites throughout the world.

Source:  http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-03/wcs-cdc032211.php

Citation of the paper: McClanahan, T, Maina, J. and Muthiga, N. 2011. Associations between climate stress and coral reef diversity in the western Indian Ocean. Global Change Biology (2011), doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2011.02395.x

SWIOFP Mid-Term Review – Project achievements and challenges discussed and way forward charted in Review Meeting held in Male, the Maldives 

By Melckzedeck K. Osore

South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Project (SWIOFP) held its Review Meeting from 8^th to 10^th March, 2011 at the Nasandhura Palace Hotel, in Male, the Republic of Maldives to discuss progress achieved in the project so far and to chart out the way ahead. The key agenda of the Meeting was to discuss a report of the Midterm Review conducted by a consultant.

The Meeting was followed by a special session of the SWIOFP Regional and Policy Steering Committee (RSPC) held at the same venue on 12^th March. The RSPC, which authorises operational recommendations and annual work plans on behalf of SWIOFP partner countries, comprises Permanent Secretaries and Directors of the Government agencies. Its main task during the Special Session was therefore to evaluate the recommendations reached by the Review Meeting before approving them for implementation.

Too busy to pose for a snap! Sean Fenessy from ORI, South Africa (Left) and Lameck Kuguru from TAFIRI, Tanzania busy in session during the Review Meeting in Male, Maldives

The Review Meeting was held following an extensive Mid-Term Review (MTR) conducted by a consulting company – the Poseidon. This objectives of the MTR were to : 1) Review the project design and its continuing relevance to the region; 2) Document the efficiency and adequacy of project implementation progress; 3) Assess the effectiveness and impacts of the project to date in achieving the objectives and the expected results; 4) Consider sustainability issues and key lessons learned; and make recommendations with regards to all of the above issues.

The MTR was completed using a range of evaluation techniques including: a desk study review of relevant documentation; a three-week visit to the region to hold consultations with stakeholders; the use of a semi-structured stakeholder questionnaire to illicit feedback from stakeholders the consultant was not able to meet with; and the use of telephone consultations.

Some of the major achievements of SWIOFP so far listed in the Midterm Review Report are:

·         Project has been linking well to establish partnerships with other institutions, projects and stakeholders;

·         Flexibility in implementation approach so the project can adapt to changing circumstances and needs;

·         SWIOFP has helped to build a regional network, to generate data/science on a regional basis, and to help foster a regional identity;

·         Project has focussed on ensuring that ownership of data and research remains within, and is shared within, the region;

·         Allocation of responsibilities for leading different components to different countries has engendered good involvement by countries and a spread of project benefits;

·         The bottom up and participatory nature of the design was crucial in ensuring the high relevance and coherence of the project design.

The Review Meeting was attended by the Director of KMFRI – the host institution of SWIOFP, the Regional Executive Secretary of the Project, World Bank Task Team Leader, GEF representative, SWIOFP Focal Point Leaders and their representatives as well as various SWIOFP Regional Component Coordinators and National Component Coordinators from Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, La Reunion-France, Seychelles, South Africa and Tanzania.

The Special Session was hosted by the Maldives Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture and attended by all the participants of the SWIOFP Review Meeting, government delegates from SWIOFP partner countries, the Secretary of South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC), representatives of the Agulhas Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystem (ASCLME) among other distinguished invitees.

East African environmental specialists have questioned new research that concludes that that climate change will bring increased drought, rather than more rain, to the region.

The new research, published in Climate Dynamics, predicts that the droughts common in eastern Africa over the past 20 years are likely to continue if global temperatures rise further.

But the prediction contradicts the scenario of increased rainfall projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Read the full article from: http://www.scidev.net/en/news/climate-change-will-bring-drought-not-rain-to-east-africa-.html

The Climate Change and African Political Stability (CCAPS) program will offer up to three pre-doctoral fellowships for the 2011-2012 academic year. The CCAPS pre-doctoral fellowship program aims to stimulate the development of the next generation of researchers and thought leaders on the topic of climate change and political stability in Africa.

Pre-doctoral fellows are encouraged to present their research within and outside the Center, collaborate on papers or projects with other fellows and faculty, participate in the research activities of CCAPS, attend and take an active role in CCAPS and Strauss Center seminars and conferences, and immerse themselves in the greater University community during their appointment.

ELIGIBILITY

Pre-doctoral fellowships are available to advanced PhD students, with preference given to those who have made substantial progress towards the completion of their dissertation. Pre-doctoral fellows are expected to work on — and ideally complete — their doctoral dissertations during the fellowship.

CCAPS invites applications from all disciplines, including both the social and natural sciences, as they pertain to relevant topics to the CCAPS program (see Areas of Research below). CCAPS encourages applications from women, minorities, and citizens of all countries.

AREAS OF RESEARCH

The Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law at the University of Texas at Austin is a nonpartisan research center that engages the best minds in academia, government, and the private sector to develop unique, policy-relevant solutions to complex global challenges. The Strauss Center’s program on Climate Change and African Political Stability conducts research in three core areas seeking to: investigate where and how climate change poses threats to stability in Africa, identify strategies to support accountable and effective governance in Africa, and evaluate the effectiveness of international aid to help African societies adapt to climate change.

CCAPS will consider applicants working on a broad range of topics related to climate change, political stability, and security in Africa. Suitable topics may include, but are not limited to:

- Climate change vulnerability in Africa
- Potential impacts of climate change on political stability or security in Africa
- Strategies for addressing climate change challenges in Africa

STIPEND INFORMATION

CCAPS offers pre-doctoral fellowships in residence at the University of Texas at Austin for one year (September 2011-May 2012). The fellowship includes a nine-month stipend of $24,000 and one round-trip airline ticket.

Applicants should note that the stipend awarded might not cover all living costs in Austin during the fellowship period. Applicants should be prepared to cover any additional expenses themselves or through other external funding sources. Applicants who must obtain a J1 visa in order to participate in the fellowship are required to provide proof of health insurance when applying for the J1 visa. The CCAPS fellowship does not provide health insurance.

FURTHER DETAILS AND APPLICATION FORMS AVAILABLE AT – http://ccaps.strausscenter.org/fellowship_announcement

Each year, the Duke University Marine Laboratory/Duke Center for Marine Conservation offers an exciting opportunity for international students. Duke’s Integrated Marine Conservation Program teaches the principles necessary to the conservation and preservation of the coastal and oceanic environment. The focus is on interdisciplinary problem solving—using natural and social science theory to resolve real world environmental problems. This program is a tremendous opportunity for students at any level to think about conservation biology and policy in an environment full of students and faculty grappling with the same issues. The core class – BIO 109/ENV209 Conservation Biology and Policy – involves field trips, discussion groups, role play, lecture and a final project that focuses on the integration of science and policy. Students will leave the class with an appreciation of the policy process, as well as knowledge in the fundamentals of marine conservation.

Deadline: 31 March 2011

For additional information regarding the Global Fellowships in Marine Conservation applicants are encouraged to contact ml_admissions@nicholas.duke.edu.

Fellowships for international students will fully cover travel expenses, room and board, and tuition for two courses, your required course BIOLOGY 109/ENVIRON 109/ENVIRON 209 Conservation Biology and Policy and an elective course of your choice to subject to availability. The courses begin on July 11 and ends on August 12, 2011.

Eligibility
The Global Fellowships are available to any international applicant with a good working knowledge of English who has an interest and qualifications in marine conservation biology.  The course requires some background in marine science and political science. Usually Global Fellows have a BA or BS degree in hand.

Application
There is no separate fellowship application form. Intent to apply for a fellowship should be made known on the summer course enrollment form.

Required Credentials
In addition to the enrollment form, each Global Fellowship applicant is required to submit the following credentials:

1. A brief essay – please limit this to one page – describing the applicant’s education, research, and work experience background please note a Curriculum Vitae does not take the place of this essay;
2. A brief statement of purpose – please limit this to one page – i.e., describing the applicant’s reason for taking the course, how the applicant will be able to apply the training in his/her home country, the applicant’s future goals;
3. A letter of recommendation from academic faculty or employer addressed to Dr. Larry Crowder.  We do not offer guidelines about the information to be included in your reference letter. These letters typically include how the referee knows you, his/her opinions of your work together in the past, and thoughts about whether he/she feels you’d be well suited to this program.
4. A Complete Curriculum Vitae
5. A copy of your transcript is preferred. It may be an unofficial version. The transcript can be emailed to drpease1@duke.edu or faxed to (252) 504-7638 or scanned and emailed to the attention of Debbie Pease.  A non-certified translation of the transcript is fine.  If sending a transcript is impossible, then please send a copy of your degree. If a traditional transcript is available, documentation certifying your courses, grades and official notes taken in each course during university studies in addition to a copy of your diploma will be required.

All credentials are to be posted to: The Duke University Marine Lab, Attention: Debbie Pease, 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd, Beaufort NC 28516, USA; or faxed to 252-504-7638 to the attention of Debbie Pease; or scanned and sent in MS Word or pdf format as an email attachment to drpease1@duke.edu.  No other format will be accepted.

Due Date
Global Fellowship applications and credentials must be received no later than 1 April 2011 by Ms. Debbie Pease (drpease1@duke.edu).  All applicants will be notified of their award status shortly after the deadline date.

We appreciate your interest in our Global Fellows program.  If you have any questions you may contact Ms. Debbie Pease at drpease1@duke.edu.

A full scholarship (fees plus maintenance and travel) funded through the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship scheme is available for applicants to the MSc in Climate Change and Development programme for entry October 2011.

Note: Potential applicants must undertake the following process in the order stated.

1.    Check their eligibility for the award (see criteria below)

2.    Submit an application for the MSc in Climate Change and Development using the online application facility at http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/pg/2011/taught/3331/23691

3.    Only after applicants have received an offer of a place on the course should they request an application form for the scholarship, be contacting climate@sussex.ac.uk. The deadline for applications for the scholarship is 1st May 2011.

Scholarship Criteria

Applicants must
(i)    be nationals of (or permanently domiciled in) a Commonwealth developing country, and not currently be living or studying in a developed country (please see the booklet for a list of eligible countries)
(ii)    hold a first degree at either first or upper second class level;
(iii)    be sufficiently fluent in English to pursue the course
(iv)    have not previously studied for one year or more in a developed country
(v)    not be employed by a government department (for this purpose the Commission counts this as being employed by a Government Ministry).
(vi)    be able to confirm in writing that neither they or their families would otherwise be able to pay for the proposed course of study
(vii)    be willing to confirm that they will return to their home country as soon as their period of study is complete

Further information

(i)    MSc in Climate Change and Development

This is unique course that aims to provide state-of-the-art training for the rapidly expanding market for development professionals with specialisation in climate change.  The programme is strongly multidisciplinary and students will acquire specialist knowledge of the causes of climate change, the implications for developing countries, and the policy and practice of efforts to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate. Courses are taught by leading researchers in these fields from the world renowned Institute for Development Studies (IDS), the Geography Department and Science and Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU).

<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/pg/2011/taught/3331/23691>
<www.sussex.ac.uk/climatechange>
Tel: +44 (0)1273 877686
Email: climate@sussex.ac.uk

(ii)    Commonwealth Shared Scholarship

For full details of the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship scheme see http://www.cscuk.org.uk/docs/DFIDSSSBOOKLET2011vi.pdf