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Society for Conservation GIS, KenyaView Photo(s) of Award Presentation Project Goal
The Society for Conservation GIS, Kenya chapter is a membership not-for-profit body with the broad mandate of promoting the use of GIS in Kenya among conservationists by creating a network and association of conservation GIS professionals in Kenya bound by means and purpose. The Society which is a not for profit body, assists conservationists using GIS and spatial technologies through non-profit conferences, programs, scholarships workshops and hands-on training sessions. We aim to provide high-tech support, training and tools in an ‘appropriate technology’ manner so that these tools are useable and beneficial for local programs and local communities. We seek to build a community that provides knowledge and supports individuals using GIS science for the conservation of natural resources and cultural heritage. Business Problem Solved
The digital divide between the developed countries and the undeveloped has been wide even in the knowledge of and access to Geographical Information Systems. Conservationists in Kenya have made major strides in monitoring, analyzing and documenting our biodiversity and the threats it faces but their programs have not benefited from advances in technologies such as GIS which are out of reach for most. Since formation a year ago, we have created awareness among conservationists in Kenya on the use of GIS technologies. We have also offered free training on the basics of GIS and had several workshops and technical sessions showcasing various spatial analysis techniques. We have worked with specific institutions to develop habitat suitability models for keystone species and create wildlife movement animations. Our membership is able to exchange ideas, get access to local data, software, training and keep abreast with technological advances through our Web site and listserv. Technology Implemented
We have so far used ArcView 3.2 and ArcGIS 9.1 for the trainings, the demonstrations and the development of habitat suitability models. In a country like Kenya most non-profit institutions cannot afford to purchase software and hardware that they require, and so we are keen to link our members to technological grants and to any freely available resources (data and tools) that they can tap into. Development Team Biography
Lucy Chege-Waruingi, BsC in Computer science (University of Nairobi) and statistics, MsC in GIS (Manchester Metropolitan University). Worked for 16 years at the African Conservation Centre of which 8 years has been in setting up the GIS dept and integrating GIS into the ongoing research work. Currently chair of the Society for Conservation GIS Kenya. |
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