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Orienteering in Jamaica |
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ORIENTEERING WORKSHOP - JAMAICA - PAGE 4 |
| INTRODUCTION AND CONTENTS |
| 4. INTRODUCTION In 2002, Windsor Research Centre (WRC) received funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and The Nature Conservancy-Jamaica (TNC-Ja) to develop and implement a long-term bird monitoring programme in Cockpit Country. We recognized the importance of linking this programme with the recently-completed vegetation assessment of Cockpit Country conducted by Forestry Department under the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)-funded Trees-for-Tomorrow project (FD-TFT). These two datasets, habitat and bird species composition, provide a foundation for assessing the current condition of Cockpit Country and its environs and enable long-term monitoring of forest health, with birds serving as indicator species. In order to implement the bird monitoring programme, WRC recognized that research assistants would not only need skills in identifying bird species but also would need to be able to locate monitoring points throughout the complex cockpit karst landscape. They would need to be able to locate FD-TFT survey transects and be able to locate precisely on a map any new survey points. Further, research assistants would need to complete these activities without getting lost in the maze of cockpit hilltops and sinks. Experience on Jamaica has revealed that there are few training opportunities for field researchers to develop map reading and orienteering skills. Consequently, many young researchers are unable to locate (and, more important, re-locate precisely) areas where they have conducted their scientific studies. With improvements in the Global Positioning System (GPS), these researchers are becoming more dependent on technology without having a basic understanding of maps to verify their locations in the field. In the worst case scenario, when the batteries fail on their GPS receiver, they run the considerable risk of getting lost. In addition, experience has demonstrated that even sophisticated GPS receivers experience difficulties in obtaining sufficient satellite signals in the steep cockpit terrain. To improve this gap in field skills, WRC sought to develop a practical course to teach map reading and orienteering. FD had also identified a need for such training for their Foresters and Wardens, not only for conducting forest assessments for long-term monitoring but also to improve their abilities to enforce boundaries and identify whether an infraction had occurred within a Forest Reserve. Together, we designed a course that, with successful completion, would enable Forestry officers and researchers to use the basic tools of orienteering - a compass and a topographic map - to navigate anywhere on Jamaica. 5. LIST OF INSTRUCTORS The workshop was lead by two principal instructors, who conducted lectures and over-saw all practical field exercises, and one secondary instructor, who conducted lectures: Dr. Susan Koenig (Principal Instructor) Director of Research Windsor Research Centre, Jamaica |
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