Using Environmental DNA Research to Better Inform Conservation Decisions
Quantifying biodiversity is essential to conserving it. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a cutting-edge tool that excels at the rapid quantification of biodiversity. It takes advantage of the fact that animals and plants shed DNA that can reside in the sediments for 100’s to 1000’s of years. This shed DNA can be captured and sequenced to allow us to build a picture of both past and current environments.

The Center of Excellence in Biodiversity and Natural Resources Management at University of Rwanda, in partnership with researchers from the Congo Basin Institute at University of California, Los Angeles and CALeDNA at University of California, Santa Cruz, have hosted training workshops that will take place at the College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, and Nyungwe National Park.