Articles
Seedbed of early career conservationists: a model for strengthening biodiversity conservation capacity in tropical Asia
Article number
1455_16
Pages
131 – 136
Language
English
Abstract
The loss of biodiversity and its impact on human society have aroused global concern.
The Asia-Pacific region and other tropical zones represent both a global biodiversity hotspot and a critical challenge for conservation efforts.
Long-term solutions hinge on institutional capacity building within research, conservation, and development organizations, coupled with the professional development of conservation practitioners.
The Advanced Fieldcourse in Ecology and Conservation – XTBG (AFEC-X), initiated and hosted by the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences (XTBG) since 2009, stands as the preeminent capacity-developing initiative focused on tropical ecosystems, particularly in Asia.
A study was conducted in 2022 to reveal the following questions: 1) AFEC-X significantly enhanced the professional skills and self-efficacy of the participants; and 2) strengthened cross-border cooperations.
Mixed methods including interview, questionnaire, and literature were applied in this study.
The results show that on average, each participant establishes collaborative ties with 7 peers as close colleagues and maintains long-term partnerships with 6 peers and 2 instructors for further joint research projects or degree pursuits.
AFEC-X played a central role in the pursuit of conservation goals and is having the desired effect on improving confidence, professional capacities and self-efficacy of the participants significantly, fostering a regional network of young scientists, promoting, and strengthening cross-border cooperations between the tropical biologists and ecologists on the biodiversity conservation.
It provides a positive case and reference for the global biodiversity conservation, especially for the biodiversity conservation and regional sustainable development in tropical Asia.
The Asia-Pacific region and other tropical zones represent both a global biodiversity hotspot and a critical challenge for conservation efforts.
Long-term solutions hinge on institutional capacity building within research, conservation, and development organizations, coupled with the professional development of conservation practitioners.
The Advanced Fieldcourse in Ecology and Conservation – XTBG (AFEC-X), initiated and hosted by the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences (XTBG) since 2009, stands as the preeminent capacity-developing initiative focused on tropical ecosystems, particularly in Asia.
A study was conducted in 2022 to reveal the following questions: 1) AFEC-X significantly enhanced the professional skills and self-efficacy of the participants; and 2) strengthened cross-border cooperations.
Mixed methods including interview, questionnaire, and literature were applied in this study.
The results show that on average, each participant establishes collaborative ties with 7 peers as close colleagues and maintains long-term partnerships with 6 peers and 2 instructors for further joint research projects or degree pursuits.
AFEC-X played a central role in the pursuit of conservation goals and is having the desired effect on improving confidence, professional capacities and self-efficacy of the participants significantly, fostering a regional network of young scientists, promoting, and strengthening cross-border cooperations between the tropical biologists and ecologists on the biodiversity conservation.
It provides a positive case and reference for the global biodiversity conservation, especially for the biodiversity conservation and regional sustainable development in tropical Asia.
Authors
X. Xia, K. Thammasiri, D.Z. Zhang
Keywords
AFEC-X, ecology, China, cross-border cooperation, sustainable development
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