TAITASMARTGIS seminar
Environmental sensing and geoinformatics for climate smart landscape framework development for food security in East Africa
October 1, 2019, 9.30-17, Kumpula campus, Exactum B123
University of Helsinki
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry
Welcome to a seminar hosted by University of Helsinki and Taita Taveta University presenting the approaches and results from SMARTLAND project funded by Development Research Programme of the Academy of Finland and TAITAGIS project funded by Board of Education of Finland.
Highlights of both projects and research success stories from Taita Research Station of the University of Helsinki are presented as well as premier screening for Plant Treasures of the Taita Hills, a short-film on plants in the Taita Hills.
Schedule:
9.30 Registration and coffee
10.15 Opening
Vice Rector Tom Böhling, University of Helsinki
10.25 Greetings
Minister Pekka Haavisto, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Dean Marianne Maghenda, Taita Taveta University
Deputy Vice Chancellor Madara Ogot, University of Nairobi
Chancellor Kaarle Hämeri, University of Helsinki
11.00 Presentations, session 1
Petri Pellikka, Department of Geography and Geosciences / INAR: Climate smart landscape: Aims and current activities of SMARTLAND
Lucas Mwangala, & Mika Siljander, Taita Taveta University: Improving capacity, quality and access of Geoinformatics teaching, research and daily use in Taita Taveta, Kenya
Laura Alakukku, Pirjo Mäkelä & Juuso Tuure, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry: Developing water-smart agronomy by means of participatory research
Toni Laine & Jouko Rikkinen, Finnish Museum of Natural History: Plant Treasures of the Taita Hills (documentary film)
12.00 Lunch (at own cost)
12.45 Presentations, session 2
Matti Räsänen & Timo Vesala, INAR: Carbon and water flux research in SMARTLAND
Risto Vesala, Jouko Rikkinen & Laura Arppe, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Finnish Museum of Natural History: Termites in the Taita Taveta County
Justin Maghanga, Taita Taveta University: Soils and environmental chemistry in the Taita Taveta County
Hari Adhikari, Edward Amara, Petri Pellikka & Janne Heiskanen, Department of Geography and Geosciences / INAR: Aboveground biomass distribution and forest structure in the Taita Hills
Temesgen Abera & Eduardo Maeda, Department of Geography and Geosciences / INAR: Role of bushland loss on regional climate in Africa
Sheila Wachiye, Lutz Merbold & Petri Pellikka, Department of Geography and Geosciences / INAR, International Livestock Research Institute: Greenhouse gas emissions from land uses in Taita Taveta
Antti Autio & Tino Johansson, Department of Geography and Geosciences, International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology: Gendered prioritization of climate smart agricultural practices in Taita Taveta
Kristiina Karhu & Kevin Mganga, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry: Soil microbes and carbon use efficiency in Taita Hills
14.45 Coffee
15.00 Presentations, session 3
Martha Nzisa & Mika Siljander, Kenya Wildlife Service, Department of Geography and Geosciences: A spatio-temporal analysis of human wildlife conflicts in Taita Taveta
Hanna Rosti & Jouko Rikkinen: Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences: Unknown mammals in the forests of the Taita Hills
Nashon Adero, Taita Taveta University: Geological exploration in the Taita Taveta County
Joseph Ogola, University of Nairobi & Olli Vapalahti, Faculty of Medicine: New ebolavirus in Angolan free-tailed bats in Kenya
Jouko Rikkinen, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences: Lichen and bryophytes of Taita forests
Yang Liu & Simon Schallhart, Department of Geography and Geosciences / INAR, Finnish Meteorological Institute: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in various land cover types in Taita Taveta
Werner Kutsch, International Carbon Observation System: Carbon fluxes in African landscape
Enrico di Minin, Department of Geography and Geosciences: Social media in illegal wildlife trade research in Africa
James Mwangombe, Kenya Forest Service: Carbon compensation as a solution for forest conservation in Taita Hills
17.00 Final words
Dean Kai Nordlund, University of Helsinki
SMARTLAND: Environmental sensing of ecosystem services for developing climate smart landscape framework to improve food security in East Africa
TAITAGIS: Improving capacity, quality and access of Geoinformatics teaching, research and daily use in Taita Taveta, Kenya (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/projects/taitagis)
To register for the seminar, please fill the form below latest by September 30, 2019.
