Aldabra ranger attends DESMAN course at Durrell, UK |16 July 2018

Ella Nancy, a ranger on Aldabra, attended the Durrell Endangered Species Management Graduate Certificate (DESMAN) earlier this year. The course was held on Jersey Island in the UK at the prestigious Durrell Conservation Academy.

Ella joined a group of 14 other conservationists from different parts of the world who were also participating in the course.

One of the strengths of DESMAN is the large number of regions represented by the students; this year these included Seychelles, Samoa, St Lucia, Brazil, Canada, India, Sri Lanka, Armenia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates and Nigeria.

The aim of the course was to increase participant’s critical understanding of the theory and practice of endangered species management and recovery, better equipping them to develop and realise their own species and/or habitat conservation projects.

In order to achieve this aim the course covered practical approaches to species-led conservation action, based on theoretical knowledge, with an emphasis on immediate steps that can be taken to save endangered species from extinction. It also included topics on how to develop critical thinking skills necessary for participants to make informed decisions about conservation initiatives they are involved in. Topics about the development of management skill were also covered to better enable participants to lead their own conservation team.

Ella found the course to be an amazing opportunity although it was sometimes challenging. She met many inspiring people in the field of conservation and they supported her throughout the course. She is very grateful to all the course organisers for all the knowledge and skills she has acquired and she now feels more confident in her role and is ready to share her knowledge with her colleagues!

This course will lead to many other opportunities in the field of conservation for Ella and we are thrilled she was able to take part. With the successful completion of the course she was promoted to a senior ranger – Congratulations Ella!

SIF