IUCN - The World Conversation Union

NDINGA-MAKANDA, Accel Arnaud, Congo. Profession, Researcher and Head of Programme at the Marien Ngouabi University in Brazzaville. Discipline: Information Science and Communication Techniques. Current position : Member of the National Assembly and Rapporteur for the Commission on Landscape Planning, Environment, Urbanisation and Habitat. Professional Activities have included:

• Attaché for Scientific Research and the Environment at the Ministry of Scientific Research and Environment (1987-1988)
• Project leader for the Nouabalé-Ndoki Biosphere Reserve which led to the creation of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park(1987-1991)
• Member of the Scientific Advisory Council for the Dimonika Biosphere Reserve (Mayombe Project: 1987-1991)
• Chief of Staff at the Ministry for Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (1991-1992)
• Founding member of the Conference on Central African Dense Forest Ecosystems (CEFDHAC) (CEFDHAC : 1986)
• IUCN Regional Councillor for Africa of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natual Resources (IUCN : 2007)

Amadou Tidiane Ba, Senegal, is Full Professor and Director of the Institute for Environmental Sciences and Director of the Botany and Biodiversity Laboratory, Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Sciences, at the Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar.

Professor Ba is author of the chapters on Biodiversity and Forest Conservation of the National Environmental Action Plan for Senegal; Coordinator of the team that drafted the Senegalese National Report on the Contribution of Education to Combatting Drought and Desertification in the Sahel; National Coordinator for the preparation of the National Report on Biodiversity 1998, the National Monograph on Biodiversity in Senegal, and the National Strategy for the Conservation of Biodiversity; and Coordinator of the study group that compiled the collection of higher endemic plant species and species protected by the Forestry Code, for Senegal and CITES.

He is a member of several national organizations (CONSERE, CE, CERES, LOCUSTOX, FNRAA, MAB) and international organizations (CRESA, AGRHYMET, IDDRI) which set priorities and policies for the management of the environment and natural resources; President of the Association of West African Botanists; specialist in biodiversity; and Adviser to the Government. Professor Ba participates actively in the National Committee of IUCN members and was Chair of the IUCN Council Task Force on Arid and Semi Arid Lands.

Zohir Sekkal, Algeria, holds a PhD in the physical sciences and is Professor at the Algiers Science and Technology University. He is founder and President of the Mouvement Ëcologique Algérien (MEA) and a former member of the Algerian National Assembly.

Zohir Sekkal was, until November 2001, Chair of the Mediterranean NGO Network for Ecology and Sustainable Development (MEDFORUM) and is well informed about issues of interest to IUCN in the Mediterranean region, especially in North Africa. Since 1996, he has been involved with the Biodiversity Programme in North Africa for the rehabilitation of medicinal plants and their sustainable exploitation as a means for combating rural poverty and helping women. He leads the Forest Ecosystems Programme (ECOFOR) financed by the European Union and is participating with FAO in the project "Telefood" aimed at promoting awareness in primary schools about food problems by involving pupils in the production of vegetable crops and fruit at their schools and promoting awareness about nature conservation. He is launching a programme for investors in aquaculture in Algeria in order to ensure that this new activity takes into account its impact on the marine environment and natural resources. He has participated in the creation of a botanical garden in the region east of Algiers and created a pilot farm in the region of Sidi Bel Abbès in Western Algeria. He is author of a number of publications on environmental topics and has participated in many conferences on environment and development.