Dear colleagues and friends,
Professor Gong has contacted me from the mangrove training course in Penang, Malaysia suggesting the following topic for discussion this month (May 2007):
Is there a need to understand science for the effective management of mangrove ecosystems?
The following is Prof. Gong's message:
Quote:
We are about half way through the GEF/UNEP SCS training course on “Sustainable use management of mangrove ecosystems”. A few participants have asked why the course has had a number of lectures on the scientific aspects including identification of plant and animals, primary productivity, estuarine hydrodynamics, economic valuation and carrying capacity since they have been managing their mangrove ecosystems without any need of knowledge of the above.
A few participants have been really interested in some of these aspects e.g. one participant has been trying to get all the information we can provide on the measurement of primary productivity, while a few others have been keeping track of all the plant/animal species they have come across (and helped collect) during the field trips etc. The question I would like to pose (as our topic of discussion for this forum) is: Is there a need to understand science for the effective management of mangrove ecosystems?
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Best regards,
Chris
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