FSML: Improvements in Facilities and Equipment at Mpala Research Centre, Kenya

改善姆帕拉研究中心的设施和设备该项目的目标是通过改善姆帕拉研究中心的有形基础设施和研究能力，提高东非干旱地区生态研究的质量。该中心的目的是促进环境、生物和保护科学的研究，位于莱基皮亚生态系统的核心，这是一个多样化的稀树大草原，维持着巨大的野生动物种群，其中大部分没有在国家公园或保护区受到正式保护。这片土地容易出现严重的环境波动，产生周期性的干旱和洪水，这对土著人民、商业牧场主和野生动物本身的生存能力构成了挑战。该中心的使命之一是制定研究计划，提供科学见解，帮助维护生态系统，同时提高利用生态系统资源的人们的生活质量。完成这一使命需要将机构驱动、任务驱动的研究与个人研究人员发起的基础研究项目中出现的应用相结合。为了提高来自世界各地的科学家(主要是那些研究已经得到美国国家科学基金会资助的科学家)进行这些不同类型研究的能力，中心需要加强和扩大其物理工厂，并提供更多的共同研究支持设施。中心尤其将改进其以下方面：1)提供不间断电力，以运行数据记录和分析所必需的实验室设备和计算机；2)研究空间，以便大型综合项目有足够的空间，使各小组能够协调一致地开展工作；3)储存住房，以容纳作为当地研究协调员的驻地科学家和新聘用的地理信息系统专家，后者将为空间问题的分析提供支助，这些空间问题对了解气候模式和野生动物以及牲畜迁徙和人口动态十分重要；4)地面和空中的监测设备，以提供对预测环境条件、野生动物数量和牲畜数量的变化至关重要的长期数据库，以便制定合理和可持续的管理和保护计划；以及5)库存共享和公共研究、通信和计算机设备，以及4x4车辆，用于穿越崎岖的地形。姆帕拉研究中心的研究旨在推进莱基皮亚稀树草原生态系统内自然资源管理和保护的知情和综合办法。通过这样做，这项研究提供了商业牧场和由土著人民组成的集体牧场所使用的科学背景，以便以经济和生态上合理的方式更好地管理他们的土地、牲畜和野生动物。基于研究的政策正在帮助确保野生动物通过在一些土地上进行可持续的捕杀和消费制度以及在另一些土地上的生态旅游企业来帮助支付保护费用。此外，向这些不同的社区推广如何与捕食者和野生动物竞争对手共处，有助于维持这一严酷生态系统的动态。向来自政府和非政府组织的野生动物专业人士以及来自肯尼亚和国际大学的学生团体传授的课程很常见，正在帮助改变下一代环境领导人以及今天那些关键决策的人的想法。

Improvements in Facilities and Equipment at Mpala Research Centre, KenyaDaniel I.Rubenstein, P.I.The goal of the project is to enhance the quality of ecological research in the arid lands of East Africa by improving the physical infrastructure and the research capabilities of the Mpala Research Centre. The Centre, whose purpose is to advance research in the environmental, biological, and conservation sciences, lies at the heart of the Laikipia ecosystem, a diverse savanna maintaining prodigious wildlife populations, much of it not formally protected in National Parks or Reserves. This landscape is prone to severe environmental fluctuations that produce periodic droughts and floods which challenges the ability of indigenous peoples, commercial ranchers and the wildlife itself to survive. It is part of the Centre's mission to shape research programs that will provide scientific insights that help maintain the ecosystem while enhancing the quality of life of the people utilizing the ecosystem's resources. Fulfilling this mission requires melding institutionally driven mission-motivated research with applications emerging from fundamental research projects initiated by individual investigators. Improving the ability of scientists from all over the world, but mostly those from the US whose research is already supported by the National Science Foundation, to carry out these different types of research requires that the Centre enhance and enlarge its physical plant and provide additional common research support facilities. In particular the Centre will improve its: 1) electrical system to provide uninterrupted electricity to run laboratory equipment and computers essential for data recording and analysis; 2) research space so that the large and integrated projects have adequate space for the teams to function coherently; 3) housing stock to accommodate the Resident Scientist who serves as the local research coordinator and the newly hired Geographical Information System specialist who will provide support for the analysis of spatial problems so important for the understanding of climate patterns and wildlife as well as livestock movements and population dynamics; 4) monitoring equipment both on the ground and in the air to provide the long-term data bases so essential for forecasting changes in environmental conditions, wildlife numbers and livestock levels so that rational and sustainable programs of management and conservation can be formulated; and 5) stock of shared and communal research, communication and computer equipment along with 4 x 4 vehicles for traveling over the rugged terrain. Research at Mpala Research Centre is intended to advance an informed and integrated approach to natural resource management and conservation within the Laikipia savanna ecosystem. In doing so the research provides the scientific background that is used by commercial ranches and the group ranches composed of indigenous peoples to better manage their lands, stock and wildlife in economically and ecologically sensible ways. Policies based on research are helping ensure that wildlife helps 'pay' for its protection by means of sustainable regimes of culling and consumption on some lands and ecotourism enterprises on others. In addition, outreach to these various communities on how to live with predators and wildlife competitors is helping maintain the dynamics of this harsh ecosystem. Courses taught with 'hands on' projects to wildlife professionals from governmental and non-governmental organization as well as student groups from Kenyan and international Universities are common and are helping transform the minds of the next generation of environmental leaders along with those who are making critical decisions today.