This International Training Course on Mangrove Ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean premiered in the region after several successful past trainings held annually in India since 2004, organized by the United Nations University, UNESCO and Annamalai University. The course was held over nine days at the University of Nairobi’s Moana Field Research Station in Diani, Kenya; and at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute’s Mangrove Center in Gazi. In total, 24 participants attended from throughout the WIO region.
There were three main objectives of this training course, these were:
1.To reinforce and increase the capacity of young professionals, academics, park rangers, managers and institutions in the WIO region to undertake characterization, monitoring, risk assessment, management and restoration of critical mangrove ecosystems;
2.To increase the awareness of the ecological roles, economic importance, and cultural significance of mangrove ecosystems;
3.To promote and encourage sharing of knowledge and experiences.