MESRT TRAINING PROGRAM
Managing Endangered Species Recovery Teams
Program objectives | Program description | Results | Partners and links
We know endangered species recovery doesn't work unless local, trained professionals are involved in the effort. Unfortunately, there are few formal training courses or published texts are available to help local biologists in many parts of the world learn the fundamentals of managing recovery teams. That's why the WPC and its sister organizations have developed the Managing Endangered Species Recovery Teams (MSERT) training program
Initially the program will be delivered regionally in Latin America, and then taken to other developing countries around the world.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
1) To provide leaders managing endangered species recovery projects with a broad appreciation and understanding of relevant scientific theory, technical knowledge and practical experience in the field of conservation.
2) To provide team leaders with human resource management skills, including coordinating and consensus building among a multidisciplinary project team.
3) To provide a training program for conservation professionals in Latin America and other developing countries where their skills are desperately required, in order that they may develop conservation programs on their own local level.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Major components of the course include:
1) lectures in ex-situ and in-situ conservation biology, including both theory and practical techniques.
2) discussion of case studies that demonstrate successes and failures in methods for recovering endangered species.
3) instruction in human resource management, especially leadership and consensus building skills.
4) practical experience in developing an Endangered Species Recovery Action Plan for a regionally threatened species.
RESULTS
Our 2000 and 2001 programs attracted field scientists, government biologists, protected area managers, wildlife veterinarians, and zoo personnel from Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Bolivia, Uruguay, Ecuador, Mexico and Ethiopia.
Bringing these future leaders together from across a geographic region builds a sense of teamwork focussed on implementing regional endangered species recovery programs, and gives them the skills to train others, creating a multiplier effect.
MESRT is a joint training initiative of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Wildlife Preservation Canada and Wildlife Trust.
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