The Centre for Biodiversity Conservation Research formerly Centre for African Wetlands was established in 2000 with funding from the Dutch Government to promote conservation and management of wetlands within the West African sub-region. The primary aim was that wetland conservation will benefit society as a whole, improve the quality of life for people living within and around wetlands, maintain wetland biodiversity and enhance the general ecological integrity of wetlands. While networking among wetland scientists in the sub-region was a strong element of the Centre’s initial activities, the funding constraints after the Dutch grant funds run out resulted in the Centre limiting its activities primarily to ecological research and training. Considering national and global development trajectories and their associated environmental threats, it became clear that securing wetland biodiversity requires an approach that goes beyond wetlands, hence the mandate of the CAW was expanded.
The mission of the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation Research (CBCR) is to promote the conservation of biological diversity for the benefit of current and future generations of people. We shall achieve this mission by:
Generating and disseminating scientific knowledge
Promoting networking among conservation scientists
Training and capacity building
Conservation Policy – analysis and research
Our programme currently focuses on:
Protected Areas
Wetlands
Species Conservation
Ecosystem Services
