Coastal and Marine Experts in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) Region
I am a marine ecologist with bias towards conservation, rehabilitation and sustainable utilisation of mangrove resources. I have developed expertise in the field of ecological mangroves restoration, carbon financing, integrated coastal area management, climate change mitigation/adaptations, and integrated management of mangrove areas.
I am an Environmental Manager and a GIS expert currently involved in the spatial analysis and interpretation of Earth Observation products across various CORDIO led projects.
My technical work entails: maintenance and customization of GeoNodes site/portal, processing of spatially explicit datasets, and programming of GIS web applications.
I have a passion for GIS and loves learning new technologies and testing them in work and personal projects. I hold a BSc and a Diploma in Environmental Management from Kampala International University.
Prof. Japhet J.
My work focuses human disturbance and environmental variability affect persistence and recovery of marine systems, and how we can manage complex systems for long term sustainability. I have worked for over 20 years designing research and conservation projects to address conservation challenges in East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. I use a combination of tools including capacity building, field studies, collaborative research, development of management strategies, and long-term data collection.
Jennifer Olbers obtained her PhD degree from the University of Cape Town in taxonomy and marine biogeography. Jennifer worked at the Oceanographic Research Institute while completing her MSc degree and gained experience in benthic monitoring and aquaculture practices.
She joined Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, as a marine ecologist where she was involved in the implementation and coordination of various marine and coastal monitoring programmes. She also coordinated the KZN Marine Animal Stranding Network in which all marine stranded animals were managed along the KZN coastline.
My work focuses on marine conservation through locally managed marine areas, enhancing sustainable marine resource use. Communicating science to local communities. And putting action to science at the local level to enhance the change that is desired.
I believe that the success of community based natural resource management lies in empowering locals to take up the mantle through good governance, understanding and engaging in economically viable social enterprises.
My research interests are on aquatic invertebrates and fish with focus on fisheries, crustacean and molluscan genetics and taxonomy, ecology, conservation, climate change and aquaculture.
I am a spatial scientist with interests in a wide range of environmental and ecological questions, and have predominantly focused on coastal and marine environment. My ultimate goals are to understand and predict the impacts of environmental variability and change on marine and coastal social-ecological systems at local and global scales in-order to support local adaptation planning and management.