CoEB Quaterly Newsletter vol.014 1

Note from the CoEB Director: 
Happy New Year to all of you! We are excited for 2022 – despite the ongoing pandemic, we have been able to realize some significant achievements. I am especially proud of the Center‟s efforts to build taxon capacity among researchers in Rwanda and the region. In the last issue of the newsletter we highlighted the biodiversity field school we co-hosted with colleagues from Senckenberg Institute in Germany. This resulted in expanding the National Herbarium of Rwanda collection, and trained young researchers in aquatic macroinvertebrates, small mammals, and other taxon groups. In the past few months, we held two more training events: a specialized training for those interested in algae and diatom studies including phD and MSc students, and a training in ant sampling techniques and taxonomy. Some say taxonomy is dying out, but in the Center, it is alive and growing. With support from various foundations and funding organizations, we will continue to build capacity to sample, identify, monitor and conserve the amazing biodiversity present in the Albertine Rift and Great Lakes Region where we are located. We cannot effectively conserve what we do not know. Beth Kaplin, Director of CoEB