Unlocking Conservation Success: How Burundi Eco-IMET is Revolutionizing Protected Area Management
Enhancing Protected Area Management with the IMET Tool
Training on the IMET tool is intended for students and teachers at the University of Burundi who are interested in environmental challenges.
The University of Burundi is hosting a training workshop on the Integrated Management Effectiveness Tool (IMET) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List from August 26 to 30, 2024. This training aims to equip students and teachers from the University of Burundi with knowledge on environmental challenges and retrain trainers from different countries in West and Central Africa in effective management of protected areas.
Introduction to IMET and the IUCN Green List
This workshop is organized by the Biodiversity and Protected Area Management (BIOPAMA) program in collaboration with the African Trainers Network on for the Effectiveness of Management of Protected Areas (BIOPAMA) RACEGAP. The BIOPAMA program is an initiative of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states, funded by the European Union and implemented by the IUCN.
“He who cannot measure cannot manage”
Léonidas Nzigiyimpa, president of the African Network of Trainers for the Effective Management of Protected Areas (RAGEGAP), emphasized the importance of the IMET tool in supporting protected area managers to improve the management of these sites and biodiversity conservation.
The Need for Effective Protected Area Management
Aly Coulibaly, representative of the regional coordinator of the BIOPAMA program for Central and West Africa, highlighted the ongoing ecosystem degradation due to human actions and climate change. The BIOPAMA program aims to support ecosystem conservation initiatives in Africa, and the use of IMET is a key example of this effort.
How IMET Works
IMET is a tool used to support protected area managers by strengthening their capacity to self-evaluate and improve the management of these sites. IMET collects and analyzes data on protected areas, providing insights for informed decision-making and advocacy.
To date, almost 200 protected areas in Central, West, East, and South Africa have been assessed using the IMET tool. In Burundi, IMET has been used in 14 protected areas since 2015.
Capacity Building and Integration into University Curricula
This capacity building workshop brought together trainers from various countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast. The ultimate goal is to integrate IMET into university curricula, ensuring the continuation of African expertise in evaluating the effectiveness of protected area management.