HISTORY AND STATUS OF ELTOSA

In May 2001, a number of African delegates were funded and hosted by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the International Long-Term Ecological Research Network (ILTER) on a study tour of some USA LTER sites. Following the study tour, a series of meetings were held between the African Delegation and several potential USA funders as well as among the African Delegation itself

The outcome was that the Delegation resolved to start ELTOSA, to develop an ELTOSA position paper for communication purposes and to have its first open meeting in Mozambique in 2002.

The current situation is that ELTOSA’s First AGM took place at Inhaca Island, Mozambique in July 2002, hosted by the Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM). A number of organisational issues were agreed on. The ELTOSA Position Paper was presented and opened for comment by members. The meeting elected a committee and prepared the outline of a business plan. The Position Paper was published in the South African Journal of Science in 2003 after comments were incorporated.

Membership is open to all southern African countries as far north as Kenya. The 2003 AGM took place in October in Maun, Botswana and was hosted by the Harry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Centre. The meeting approved the ELTOSA position paper.

The 2004 AGM that was to be held in Tanzania did not get off the ground. A highly successful 2005 AGM, hosted in Malawi by the University of Malawi, led to the development and approval of a Constitution and Strategic Plan for ELTOSA.

 ::  Back to the top
 ::  Please email the webmaster if you experience any problems.
 ::  Download Acrobat to view PDF documents on this site