Museums Set to Assist Ornithology Students

Source: The Herald

Date: 8 December 2006

Author: Anon

The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with BirdLife Zimbabwe (BLZ) to assist students studying ornithology at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) in Bulawayo.

Ornithology, a branch of zoology, is the study of birds.

The arrangement is also aimed at providing a framework for the two organisations to work closely for the welfare and preservation of the Natural History Museum Ornithology Department.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, NMMZ deputy executive director Mrs Traude Rodgers said the collaboration would go a long way in helping ornithology students at Nust in research work.

"We are going to work together and help students from Nust in research projects to further the ornithology collection and their study of birds in Zimbabwe.

"We will also work hand in hand on the collection of the Red Data Book, a compilation of rare and endangered species found in the country," she said.

Mrs Rodgers added that NMMZ and BLZ would jointly set up and run an ornithology field school to train NMMZ staff, Nust students, schoolteachers and people in broader society in the conservation of some of the country's endangered species.

BLZ director Dr Chip Chirara said the agreement was also aimed at improving the number of ornithologists in the country.

"We have had a critical shortage of ornithologists in the country and the first group of ornithologists from Nust graduated this year. We hope this will alleviate the shortage. NMMZ and BLZ will also enter into joint funding initiatives for the conservation and development of ornithology collections at the country's museums," he said.

BLZ is a group of conservationists, ornithologists and birdwatchers whose main interest is the study of birds while NMMZ, a statutory body, is the mandated custodian of all historical collections whose main focus is on birds.