Weather data
A large number of automatic weather stations has been implemented in the frame of the BIOTA AFRICA project by the Namibian National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) and the Group "Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology" (BEE) of the University of Hamburg. The website offers hourly updates of data and graphs of a large number of weather parameters.


BMBF Logo



BIOTA West GIS training workshop in Cotonou (Benin) from 24 to 28 february, successfully completed


< back

(by Noellie Yao, Tobias Landmann, Minnattallah Boutros)

The BIOTA West Remote Sensing Group facilitates a one week GIS training workshop in Benin during February 2008 for 25 BIOTA West PhD students from Benin, Burkina Faso and the Ivory Coast 

As poverty is a potential threat to biodiversity, formation of capacities at different levels and knowledge sharing with all involved stakeholders is a key concern of BIOTA WEST. Thus BIOTA is not just a research project; it is also a project in which capacity building is an important and key component. Within this framework, the Remote Sensing Unit of the University of Wuerzburg, facilitated a Geographical Information System (GIS) and remote sensing training workshop in Cotonou (Benin) from the 24th of February to the 28th of February 2008. The foremost purpose of the training was to familiarize the BIOTA West PhD students, as well as other BIOTA junior scientists, with basic methods of GIS data integration, manipulation and finally map production methods, also aligned to biodiversity related GIS data query needs in West Africa. The participants worked with the ArcGIS software and learned to integrate GPS field data with the GIS spatial layers that is the visualization of GPS points through a map. Further the participants learnt how to acquire satellite data from the internet, the processing of the imagery and how to perform a simple image analysis using the software ERDAS IMAGINE.


Below is a detailed list of participants who attended the GIS training workshop. The students were from the Ivory Coast, Benin and Burkina Fasso. All in all, a total of 25 BIOTA students participated.

  Name Organisation
1 ASSEDE Emeline Sessi Pélagie Benin, University of Abomey Calavi
2 KONE Ngolo Abdoulaye Ivory coast, University of Abobo Adjamé
3 KONE Mouhamadou Ivory coast, University of Abobo Adjamé
4 VIHOTOGBE Romaric Benin, University of Abomey Calavi
5 CAKPO Yvonne Benin, University of Abomey Calavi
6 AKELE David Benin, University of Abomey Calavi
7 VROH BI Tra Aimé Ivory coast, University of Cocody
8 TOUDONOU A.S. Christian Benin, University of Abomey Calavi
9 AVAKOUDJO Julien Benin, University of Abomey Calavi
10 SAMBARE Oumarou Burkina Fasso, University of Ouagadougou
11 EDON Solange Benin, University of Abomey Calavi
12 ADEBA Patrick Joel Ivory coast, University of Cocody
13 BONOU Alice Benin, University of Abomey Calavi
14 HOUESSOU Laurent Benin, University of Abomey Calavi
15 DOSSO Konvaly Ivory coast, University of Abobo Adjamé
16 FANDOHAN Belarmain Benin, University of Abomey Calavi
17 KPERA Nathalie Benin, University of Abomey Calavi
18 GOUWAKINNOU N. Gérard Benin, University of Abomey Calavi
19 TOKO Ismael Benin, University of Abomey Calavi
20 AHOUANSSOU Montcho Simon Benin, University of Abomey Calavi
21 KANGOYE Napoko Malika Burkina Fasso, University of Ouagadougou
22 GNOUMOU Assan Burkina Fasso, University of Ouagadougou
23 OUEDRAOGO Oumarou Burkina Fasso, University of Ouagadougou
24 DELEKE Ines Benin, University of Abomey Calavi
25 HOUEHANOU Thierry Benin, University of Abomey Calavi