Tropical Biology Association

08/05/2026

On Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, we are reminded of the many ways in which he has inspired our work. One moment in particular stands out, when as co-organisers of the Student Conference on Conservation Science in Cambridge we were joined by Sir David himself to take questions from students and spend time at the poster session. It was an experience that nobody there is likely to forget.

You can read more about the conference in this feature article from our co-organisers at the University of Cambridge: https://lnkd.in/eEVXXuK5

04/04/2026

Supporting conservation careers – the long view

Tropical Biology Association is a co-organiser of the Student Conference on Conservation Science (SCCS), and this year marks the conference’s 25th anniversary.

We’re also celebrating how capacity development can launch conservation careers. All of this year’s plenary speakers and panellists are SCCS alumni, and here we spotlight three TBA alumni who are at the conference.

30/03/2026

Sixteen Civil Society Organization (CSO) leaders from Comoros are taking part in a four-day course to strengthen their ability to integrate Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) into their projects. The training is part of a wider initiative supporting CSOs in the Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands biodiversity hotspot.

The course builds skills in organizational and project management for long-term sustainability, covering leadership, strategic communication, and sustaining projects beyond initial funding.

By equipping participants with these skills, the programme aims to enhance how CSOs design, implement, and communicate EbA interventions, strengthening their resilience and ability to mobilize resources while supporting locally driven climate solutions.

16/03/2026

Final week to apply!

If you’re an early-career researcher with a passion for tropical biology, this course will shape your career.

Spend a month in the incredible Kibale National Park, Uganda, learning tropical ecology, designing research projects, analysing data, and working alongside students from more than 20 countries.

Apply by 20 March: https://tropical-biology.org/uganda-2026/

09/03/2026

Less than two weeks left to apply!

The 2026 TBA Field Course takes place in Kibale National Park, Uganda - one of Africa’s most important tropical forests.

Spend a month learning tropical ecology in the field: designing research projects, analysing data, and working alongside students from more than 20 countries.

If you're an early-career conservationist looking to build practical field skills and an international network, this course will shape your future in conservation.

Find out more and apply: https://tropical-biology.org/uganda-2026/

05/03/2026

The course may be ending, but the work is just beginning.

Over the past two weeks our trainee restoration managers learnt about restoration in practice. This included understanding and managing impacts of invasive species on regeneration, establishing monitoring plots; visiting community-based long-term restoration projects; and learning how to design effective restoration programmes.

On the final day, participants shared how they will apply these lessons when they return home. Some will create clearer monitoring plans and revise their indicators. Others will strengthen stakeholder engagement, test new restoration approaches, or improve how they communicate the impact of their work.

Across the group, one theme stood out: restoration is not only about planting trees, but about designing projects that have measurable impact, involve communities equitably, and adapt over time.

We look forward to seeing how these ideas take root across the landscapes in the 12 countries our trainees work.

25/02/2026

Restoration is more than planting trees.

Our participants learned what successful restoration looks like on the ground at the FACE the Future project. Key to the success was community engagement, a long-term monitoring plan, and adaptive management.

We also saw how carbon finance is supporting forest recovery while generating benefits for local communities, showing how climate, biodiversity and livelihoods can align when restoration projects are well designed.

21/02/2026

Our new cohort of forest restoration practitioners from across Africa are in the field at Kibale National Park. Today with Dr Patrick Omeja we’re monitoring seedling establishment following removal of an invasive w**d, seeing first-hand how restoration decisions play out over time. Over the coming days we’ll build the skills to design evidence-based restoration for the landscapes that our participants work in.

13/01/2026

The Tropical Biology Association (TBA), in partnership with the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, is delivering a national training in Nigeria to strengthen oversight of Global Environment Facility (GEF) projects in the country.

The two-day training (12–13 February 2026) was officially opened by Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment. It forms part of the GEF initiative to support its global network of Operational Focal Points (OFPs) to take greater ownership of their national GEF portfolios, - and to maximize GEF investment. Below is a news piece from Day 1 of the workshop.

The workshop builds on a similar training facilitated by TBA in Mozambique in December 2025. Both workshops brought together the country's OFPs, key government departments and GEF agencies involved in the implementation of GEF projects.

TBA is proud to have partnered with the GEF to deliver this initiative across 25 countries in Africa.

https://von.gov.ng/nigeria-to-enhance-coordination-in-gef-assisted-projects/

The Nigerian government has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing coordination, strengthening country ownership, and improving transparency and accountability across all Global Environment Facility (GEF)- Assisted projects in the country. Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Lawal discl...

19/12/2025