The RESSOURCE project is launching a free online training course dedicated to the conservation of waterbirds in North Africa and the Sahel. Available in French on the IUCN-PAPACO (Program on African Protected Areas and Conservation) MOOC-Conservation platform, this course offers an advanced introduction to the identification of waterbirds in the region and to counting techniques..
Comprehensive training
The MOOC-RESSOURCE offers six modules (approximately 40 hours of training) with exceptional educational content: more than 5,000 photographs of birds, 219 species identification sheets, 40 educational sequences, and 23 video interviews with experts. The training covers species identification, counting techniques, and the context of wetland conservation in the northern half of Africa.
Practical details
The educational support runs from September 15 to October 24, 2025, with access to content until December 18, 2025. This flexibility allows participants to complete the training at their own pace over three months.
Developed by the RESSOURCE project in collaboration with the Tour du Valat and the French Office for Biodiversity, this project is supported by the FFEM and the European Union. The goal is to create a network of qualified observers for wetland conservation.
A major conservation issue
The wetlands of North Africa and the Sahel are home to millions of waterbirds, both migratory and resident. These species play a vital role in local ecosystems and contribute directly to the food and financial security of many communities in the region. With increasing pressure on these fragile environments, the development of networks of trained observers is becoming a priority for their conservation.