Emmanuel Amoah
- Project name: Assessment and Conservation of Mecistops cataphractus and Osteolaemus sp. nov. cf. tetraspis in Ghana
- Project site: Northern and Ashanti region, Ghana
- EDGE species: West African slender-snouted crocodile Mecistops cataphractus
- Active: 2017 - ongoing
Biography
Emmanuel has completed his MPhil at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana, which incorporates his work on slender-snouted crocodiles. Emmanuel and his team are currently in the process of developing a national crocodile database for Ghana, and are in talks with the government in the hope of developing a Crocodile Conservation Action Plan (CCAP) for the country.
Emmanuel hopes to realise his ambition of contributing to the protection of nature for future generations through his Segré-EDGE Fellowship, and is very passionate about helping local communities come together to conserve crocodiles in Ghana.
EDGE Project
This Segré-EDGE Fellowship project will focus on identifying and conserving the last remaining key habitats for this species in Ghana. To achieve this, Emmanuel’s project will:
- Lead the development of the conservation strategy Survival Blueprint along with local stakeholders;
- Build capacity amongst local students for implementing conservation activities and monitoring crocodiles;
- Engage local communities through outreach highlighting the importance of this species, identifying ways to change behaviours such as hunting (deliberate and accidental bycatch) and implementing sustainable fishing practices.