Kumasi: A three-day training workshop has commenced for selected postgraduate students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to familiarize themselves with remote sensing technologies, aiming to tackle the growing issue of biodiversity losses. This initiative is being organized by the West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) at KNUST in collaboration with the Earth Observation Capacity Building for Africa (EOCap4Africa) Project.
According to Ghana News Agency, the training is designed to provide students with both technical knowledge and practical skills in areas such as electromagnetic radiation and atmospheric and surface interactions. Participants will also delve into potential challenges related to spatial data, forest ecosystems, remote sensing, image classification, change detection, and the creation of scientific maps.
The program is funded by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the German Environment Ministry (BMUV) through the EOCap4Africa Project. Professor Kwaku Amaning Adjei, Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Geo-Engineering at KNUST, emphasized the importance of this training, noting the global occurrence of biodiversity loss and its detrimental effects on ecosystem function and human well-being, a concern shared by Ghana.
He highlighted the threats faced by various ecosystems in Ghana, such as forests, wetlands, savannahs, and coastlines, from illegal mining, climate change, and urban expansion. Prof Amaning Adjei noted that remote sensing technologies, from satellite imagery to UAVs, offer valuable tools for monitoring land cover changes, species habitats, and water quality.
Dr. Insa Otte, Project Coordinator for EOCap4Africa, pointed out that scientists estimate species are being lost at rates 100 times faster than the natural background rate, underscoring the need for remote sensing to monitor wildlife, wetlands, and coastal areas. She advocated for equipping conservationists, policymakers, and innovators with these technologies to not only contribute to global science but also shape local communities and country-specific solutions.
Dr. Otte asserted the importance of developing solutions within Africa that are relevant, effective, and grounded in local realities, while also contributing to global conservation efforts. Prof Wilson Agyei Agyare, Director of WASCAL, stressed the necessity of the workshop given the myriad challenges in managing natural resources. He endorsed the expansion of knowledge in remote sensing data as a crucial approach to addressing biodiversity conservation challenges, advocating for more professionals trained in this field.
