Malawian working groups on ecosystem assessment trained ahead of evaluation

Expert technical working groups on aquatic, mountains, terrestrial and wetlands ecosystems trained in readiness for evaluation stage of the programme

Experts under the National Ecosystem Assessment Project captured during their recent training ahead of the programme evaluation stage in Lilongwe (Photo - Association of Environmental Journalists in Malawi)

LILONGWE, Malawi (Planet Defence) - Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources through the National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA) has capacitated it expert technical working groups on aquatic, terrestrial and wetlands including media practitioners in readiness for the evaluation stage of the programme.

NEA is a nationally driven process that focuses on developing an up to date, comprehensive, and critical synthesis of knowledge on biodiversity and ecosystem services including their interlinkages.

Speaking during a recent capacity building session, National Coordinator, Dr. John Kazembe underscored a need for proper coordination of all the expert working groups during all stages of the assessment process.

Kazembe highlighed that each stage of the process needs thorough research therefore everyone has to be on board to ensure regular engagement with relevant stakeholders.

"Currently, we have just finalized scoping process and the document was sent to Environmental Affairs Department. The good news is that it has been approved and we are moving forward to the evaluation stage," Kazembe explained.

Dr. KAZEMBE - We have gotten approval from Environmental Affairs Department

Once capacitated expert working groups will acquire best skills to be applied in the evaluation stage.

The countrywide ecosystem assessment process is led by Environmental Affairs Department  and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources - Bunda Campus.

Support is from United Nations Environment Programme and World Conservation Monitoring Centre.