GRÓ LRT: A truly transformative experience
“The GRÓ LRT training programme has truly been a transformative experience for me. Over the course of six months, I engaged in a journey of learning, relearning, and unlearning. The programme has been a game changer, equipping me with valuable insights and skills that I can now apply in my work. Beyond the knowledge gained from lectures, fieldtrips, and presentations, the organisation of the training itself is something I aspire to replicate in my personal life.”
This is how Uhunwa Precious Igho-Osagie, expert at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, describes her experience of attending the GRÓ LRT programme. She participated in the programme in 2024 and is one of of six fellows that have attended the GRÓ LRT following a partnership agreement GRÓ and UNESCO concluded to reinforce capacity for ecosystem restoration in Africa.
We need to rise to the challenge
“The GRO LRT training programme has truly been a transformative experience for me. Over the course of six months, I engaged in a journey of learning, relearning, and unlearning. The programme has been a game changer, equipping me with valuable insights and skills that I can now apply in my work. Beyond the knowledge gained from lectures, fieldtrips, and presentations, the organisation of the training itself is something I aspire to replicate in my personal life.
My passion for biodiversity conservation has grown immensely, largely due to witnessing the dedication of researchers in Iceland. Despite the harsh weather conditions, they remain committed to their work in the field. This dedication has made me realise that we have no excuses in Africa especially in Nigeria; we need to rise to the challenge and do our best.
Since returning home, I have found myself instinctively sorting my trash-a sustainable practice I adopted in Iceland. I hope this habit will catch on with my friends and family, gradually spreading and improving waste management.
Nigeria is blessed with rich biodiversity, but it is under threat from deforestation, land degradation, climate change, and the more subtle impact of invasive plant species. My individual project focused on learning methods to track the spread of non-native species in Iceland. Despite our rich biodiversity, there is a significant gap in data on non-native species. I plan to use my new skills to conduct a comprehensive survey of non-native species in the Omo biosphere reserve and develop strategies for their management and control. This project can be replicated in many other reserves and parks in Nigeria, and it will be crucial in preserving our unique biodiversity.”
GRÓ thanks Uhunwa Precious Igho-Osagie for her testimony of her experience from the programme and wishes her all the best with her future endeavours and important work in the Omo biosphere reserve in Nigeria.
