Community Research
In 2015, SACD established the Community Researcher program, aimed at providing structure to the internship component of the SACD Volunteer and Internship program. It has increased the present and future local human capacity for monitoring of CBWS conservation targets and strengthened the Research and Monitoring sub-program. Furthermore, it has increased the participation of youth members in conservation and stewardship of the biodiversity of CBWS.
The Community Researcher program trains a cohort of community researchers (CRs) and engages them in on-going research and monitoring activities in CBWS. The main focus of the program has been to build capacity and encourage active participation of the CRs in the management of their local protected area. To date, SACD CRs have participated in gathering data in the following key conservation target areas:
- Fish Catch Monitoring
- Water Quality Monitoring
- Manatee & Dolphin Monitoring
- Bentic Vegetation Mapping
- Coastal Vegetation and Mangrove Mapping
- Bird Surveys
