NETWORK

The Guinean Forest of West Africa is a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot, yet conservation remains a budding enterprise, limited by in-country expertise, making the region a top priority for capacity building on the continent. For example, at its launch in 2013, Bat Conservation Africa (BCA) identified lack of capacity as the most important factor limiting knowledge of African bats, with West Africa identified as a regional priority for bat research and capacity building in Africa.

 

The research infrastructure in West Africa remains critically underdeveloped and in dire need of upgrade to match conservation needs and advance the field of natural sciences and socio-ecology that guide conservation practice.

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Networking existing and budding expertise in the region fosters knowledge exchange and collaborative science in the region, in both English and French languages.