Last Updated: August 17th, 2020

Background

Zambia lacks a centralized repository for biodiversity information related to wetlands. This creates a gap between the data that have been collected in these rich ecosystems and conservation planners and policy makers. To address this need, BirdWatch Zambia will undertake planning for potential development of databases for wetland birds and their habitats, as well as other important wetland species of conservation concern. This planning project will assess the need and vision for such databases, and develop a technical plan to build wetlands biodiversity databases for Zambia.

Key Objectives and Activities

1. Engage a technical lead for project planning process.
2. Identify and map project partners and expected roles.
3. Consult with sites, national experts, resource users, potential project partners and decision makers on needs and project roles.
4. Map and assess, on a coarse scale, data needs and capacity gaps.
5. Develop a project plan for, and proposal to fund development of, a Zambian wetland bird database.

Planned Outputs

• Map of partners’ potential roles, needs, and gaps between them.
• Full technical proposal submitted to JRS, including final project plan.

Planned Outcomes

The needs-assessment and planning process will also provide biodiversity informatics education to partners and planning participants. This will build a stronger and more engaged community of database contributors and end-user, thus sustaining data demand.