BIOTA

K. Eduard Linsenmair,  Minnatallah Boutros, Constanze Grohmann, Melanie Hauber, Dorkas Kaiser, Konrad Tillmann

Funding: BMBF
Duration: 2000 – 2010

Project:
BIOTA Africa with BIOTA WEST as one of four regional subprojects, represents an up to date worldwide unique programme on the study of African biodiversity along an environmental and climatic gradient. It was part of the BIOLOG Programme (financed by the BMBF Federal Ministry of Education and Research). The project aimed at a holistic scientific contribution towards sustainable use and conservation of the biodiversity of the African continent.

The Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology hosted the coordination of BIOTA West as well as two ecological projects of BIOTA West, and one project of BIOTA South (about fishes,  and termites as ecosystem engineers). Research was based in the countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Namibia. Important aspects of the programme were also capacity building and investments into the infrastructure of the local institutions.

BIOTA developed in the recent years to a flagship of international biodiversity research, with a unique cooperation network of more than thirty universities in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, South Africa and Germany.

More information: www.biota-africa.de/