The inauguration of the Taita research station will be held on Wednesday 12 January 2011.
Taita Taveta area is located 150 kilometres inland from the coast and approximately 400 kilometres from Nairobi. For years, geographers from University of Helsinki led by Petri Pellikka, Professor of Geoinformatics, have engaged in multi-and cross-disciplinary research in the area in cooperation with Kenyan and international organisations as well as the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry of the University of Helsinki.
Since 2003, his TAITA projects have studied land cover and land use change, fragmentation of indigenous cloud forests, land degradation, land use conflicts and livelihoods of local communities in the Taita Hills and surrounding plains.
Taita Taveta area is located 150 kilometres inland from the coast and approximately 400 kilometres from Nairobi. For years, geographers from University of Helsinki led by Petri Pellikka, Professor of Geoinformatics, have engaged in multi-and cross-disciplinary research in the area in cooperation with Kenyan and international organisations as well as the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry of the University of Helsinki.
Since 2003, his TAITA projects have studied land cover and land use change, fragmentation of indigenous cloud forests, land degradation, land use conflicts and livelihoods of local communities in the Taita Hills and surrounding plains.
The main research data and methods have been remote sensing with airborne and satellite imagery, and the use of geographic information systems for mapping, modelling, analysing the landscape changes. The geospatial data is stored in geographic databases for further use and collaboration.
Taita Taveta area is especially well-suited for the research of feedbacks, links and interaction between land cover changes and regional climate. In the future the research will concentrate more on climate change issues.
Taita Taveta area is especially well-suited for the research of feedbacks, links and interaction between land cover changes and regional climate. In the future the research will concentrate more on climate change issues.
Young researchers having done their theses at these projects have acquired posts as experts in different parts of Africa.
Taita Hills are verdant mountains surrounded by an arid savannah located in south-east Kenya. They are known for their many endemic species of flora and fauna and rich, diverse natural life, for example, Taita African violet flower (Saintpaulia teitensis).
Taita Hills are verdant mountains surrounded by an arid savannah located in south-east Kenya. They are known for their many endemic species of flora and fauna and rich, diverse natural life, for example, Taita African violet flower (Saintpaulia teitensis).
The diversity of ecology, land use and human activities in the area is unique. The mountain tops have cloud forests and intensive agricultural activities, while the surrounding savannah is home to sisal plantations, cattle grazing grounds and national parks, where wild animals, starting form elephants, graze.
The station was previously owned by a Norwegian mission organisation, Scripture Mission.
The station was previously owned by a Norwegian mission organisation, Scripture Mission.
After the inauguration of the Taita research station, the University of Helsinki will sign an agreement of collaboration with the University of Nairobi on Friday 14 January at the Main Campus of the University.
Source:Africasciencesnews
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