Training Course for MPA Professionals on Understanding and Communicating Climate Change

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) proposed a capacity building program aimed at training MPA managers to understand, communicate and adapt to climate change. With the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the a first  training, on Understanding and Communicating Climate Change, took place in Grahamstown, South Africa from November 19-23, 2013. A mentor training preceded the training course to provide the 12 mentors with tools for facilitating participatory trainings and advance  in depth exposure to the curricula for Understanding and Communicating Climate Change (November 15-18). The objectives of the training were to   provide a basic understanding of the root cause of climate change; the types of physical, chemical and biological changes that have begun to or may occur; and anticipated impacts on habitats, species, natural systems, and human communities; to familiarize participants with tools for communicating climate change issues to key stakeholders such as policymakers and communities and to assist participants to develop a stakeholder engagement plan for planning for climate change.