Alison Stuart: Project Update: May 2008

Figure 3 Dr Stuart (Left) helping some participants to use reference materials and identification keys for identifying endangered wildlife species.

From 14th-18th April 2008, the project team trained 97 law enforcers and 16 telephone and internet operators unique skills and basic knowledge used in identification of endangered wildlife (fauna & flora) species and their products which are smuggled from Malawi to other countries for trade. Of the 113 people trained in all the three regions of the country, 48% were females.

During the training workshop, participants were introduced to key flagship and endangered wildlife species that occur in the country and methods used for identification of these endangered wildlife species which include use of:
Malawi Red Data List Pictorial Guides;
Identification keys which is a bit complex for amateurs;
Common knowledge and professional judgement about species in question; and
IUCN reference materials, e.g. books (Fig. 3) and online publications.

I am pleased to report that at the end of the workshop, over 80% of the participants were able to use one or two of the methods effectively for identification a given endangered wildlife species.