The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) has organized a 10-day intensive tree climbing training workshop for African scientists to address the significant gaps in tree canopy research in Africa.
The three experts, who are aggressively training the African scientists at the UENR Canopy Research Hub are Sam Hardingham and Steve Pearce from Australia and Vicki Tough from Germany.
An Ecologist at the Department of Biological Sciences at UENR, Dr Bismark Ofosu-Bamfo, told rbnewshub.com that the three experts also donated $6,000 worth of scientific equipment to the training center to enhance canopy research activities.
He said the equipment included wildlife acoustic devices, microclimate sensors (toms’ loggers and tiny tags), DJI Mini drone and wildlife trail cameras.
Dr Ofosu-Bamfo, who is also a lecturer at the department, said last year, the same partners donated specialized ropes (tachyons), cords, harnesses, carabiners, pulleys and ascenders equipment worth $19, 000.
First in Africa
He said the UENR hub was the first of its kind to be established in Africa to support forest health monitoring, climate change studies and empower local scientists with practical skills to enable them to have direct access to the canopy for biodiversity assessments and other related research.
Dr Ofosu-Bamfo said the participants were trained to mount scientific equipment and rope climbing techniques to address the huge tree research gaps, mainly canopy research.
“Once they receive that training, they can determine the kind of research questions they want to answer concerning our forest, ecosystem and ecology,” he said.
Dr Ofosu-Bamfo explained that if African scientists acquired skills and knowledge, they would be able to conduct different kinds of research on trees to respond to issues concerning their forests.
He said the training of African scientists would help retain the data collected to enhance the forests, increase herbal medicine and fruits production.
Huge
Dr Ofosu-Bamfo said though Ghana was blessed with forests, there were huge gaps in terms of conducting research on the forest canopies to improve them.
“Foreigners always come to conduct research they are interested in, but not the country’s priorities. They leave with the knowledge, the data, skills and their equipment. But if we are trained and equipped, we will prioritize our needs,” he said.
Dr Ofosu-Bamfo said most African scientists were not familiar with canopies research because of limited access, explaining that the workshop was to enhance canopy access.
He said to conduct research on the canopy, the researcher had to climb the trees to access the canopy to mount the scientific equipment to conduct the research.
Dr Ofosu-Bamfo said the training was to offer them safe climbing tree skills to avoid unnecessary accidents.
Rescue techniques
He said the scientists were also trained in safety and rescue techniques, explaining that the techniques were necessary because of the high risk associated with the exercise.
“We train them in safety and rescue techniques to enable them to deal with emergency situations. This is a high-risk activity, the risk of injury is very high and so safety is very crucial,” he said.
Dr Ofosu-Bamfo, who is also the Project Coordinator said he initiated the training last year after he attended an international canopy research conference in China in 2023.
“At the conference, anytime people make presentations that have global data, you will see a huge data gap in Africa. So, I decided to initiate the training at UENR, which is now attracting global attention,” he said.
Dr Ofosu-Bamfo said participants in the country were ready to work to put Ghana on the map of canopy research.
“Now that we have been trained, equipped and have our ideas, we are ready to put Ghana on the map of the canopy research,” he said.
Challenges
Dr Ofosu-Bamfo mentioned high risk, high cost of equipment and lack of funding as some of the issues hindering canopy research in the country.
He called on the government and other state agencies such as Forestry Commission and Wildlife Division to support them with resources and logistics to improve research on forests.
Some of the participants told rbnewshub.com that they were trained in tree access techniques such as moving rope and static rope system.
They said the training and the equipment donated would enhance the university’s research into the tree canopy.
