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VERSION:2.0
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
PRODID:iCalendar-Ruby
BEGIN:VEVENT
LAST-MODIFIED:20080331T104007
SEQUENCE:0
CONTACT:events@earthwatch.org.uk
ORGANIZER:Earthwatch
DTEND:20080508T203000
UID:2008-07-26T01:27:37-0400_12910717@socialweb1
DESCRIPTION:Tropical rainforests and rich savannah make Ghana a sanctuary f
 or native flora and fauna\, but it is not without its environmental challen
 ges\, not least the timber trade\, mining and intensive agriculture. Since 
 2000\, Earthwatch has been working with the Nature Conservation Research Ce
 ntre of Ghana (NCRC) to develop research and conservation projects which in
 clude the development of community-based tourism. In tonight’s lecture\, 
 hear about hippos\, cocoa farming\, manatees and an extremely rare and wond
 erful bird – the white-necked rock fowl.
\n
\n!http://farm3.static.flickr
 .com/2077/2377087126_717dd65254.jpg!_
\n%{color:blue\;font-size:90%}Dancing
  girls Ghana. Copyright Earthwatch. Olivier ASSELIN%_
\n
\n*_Conservation &
  Development – A Way for the Future - John Mason\, Executive Director\, N
 CRC_*
\n
\nIn 1990\, the hippos of Wechiau\, an isolated area in north-west
  Ghana\, and the local inhabitants were in conflict. In 1997\, NCRC initiat
 ed discussions with traditional chiefs and village elders on the creation o
 f the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary. From 2000 to 2004\, Earthwatch fie
 ld research teams collected valuable data\, and NCRC continued to work with
  the communities to establish a local ecotourism initiative which has subse
 quently brought jobs and infrastructure to the local area. The success of t
 he model developed and implemented at Wechiau which you shall be hearing ab
 out tonight has led to its replication in five other locations\, including 
 that of Dr. Ofori Dansen’s manatees project.
\n
\n!http://farm3.static.fl
 ickr.com/2290/2377087600_fcb2a65d2a.jpg!
\n_%{color:blue\;font-size:90%}Ear
 thwatch researchers on Ghana manatees project. Copyright Earthwatch. Katie 
 WILSON%_
\n
\n*_Ghana’s Manatees - Dr. Patrick Ofori Danson\, University 
 of Ghana_*
\n
\nWest African manatees belong to a diverse group of aquatic 
 mammals dating back more than 50 million years. In 1964 the Akosombo Dam in
  Ghana trapped a small population of manatees upstream in Lake Volta\, the 
 world’s largest man-made lake. Although legal protection has been establi
 shed\, enforcement is frustrated by a lack of resources\, manpower\, and li
 mited awareness of existing regulations. Hunting and conflict with fisherme
 n have left this population severely threatened. This Earthwatch project ho
 pes to significantly enhance their conservation status and facilitate the d
 evelopment of eco-tourism initiatives in the area.
\n
\n!http://farm3.stati
 c.flickr.com/2146/2377086424_77bc0180cf.jpg!
\n_%{color:blue\;font-size:90%
 }Ghana sunset. Copyright Earthwatch Katie WILSON%_
\n
\n• _Earthwatch wou
 ld like to thank Cadbury Schweppes and Newmont Ghana Gold for providing fun
 ds and volunteer support._
\n• Earthwatch events kindly supported by
\n_M
 itsubishi Corporation Fund for Europe and Asia_
SUMMARY:Ghanaian Communities and Conservation
DTSTART:20080508T180000
CREATED:20080204T164832
DTSTAMP:20080726T012737
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