John Ahrens Peace Corps Service in Uganda
Peace Corps Volunteer Service (Uganda, June 1991- June 1993):
January-June 1993
Field advisor and supervisor- biological inventory: Supervised and advised forest ranger / inventory specialists conducting biological inventories in several forest reserves located in western-central Uganda. Assisted with technical aspects and participated in some of the inventory activities. Identified and sorted butterfly species.
September-December 1992
Training course designer- biodiversity training course: Designed a training course adapted for teaching forest officers about biodiversity and wildlife conservation. The course was subsequently organized and is being used to educate all levels of personnel in Uganda's Forest Department.
May-August 1992
Coordinator/teacher/trainer- biological inventory and biodiversity training course: Coordinated, with a Ugandan counterpart, a training course designed to educate forest rangers about biodiversity and conservation of wildlife and to train them in biological inventory techniques. Taught course in basic ecological concepts related to conservation, rarity and extinction. Trained rangers in map and compass use for surveying study areas and plotting blazed trails. Field trained rangers in biological inventory techniques. This was done in the Itwara and Semliki Forest Reserves.
September, 1991 - December, 1992.
Project ecologist: Developed and implemented a fire management plan for a large grassland located in the Ngogo Nature Preserve in the Kibale Forest Reserve. Developed an inventory program for the complete biological inventory of the Kibale Forest Reserve. Designed several management plans for the Ngogo Preserve. Updated vegetation cover-maps using aerial photos. Assisted with issues related to chimpanzee habituation for tourism at the Kanyanchu Tourism Camp of Kibale Forest.
September 1991 - December 1992
Research camp manager: Managed a field research camp located in the Ngogo Nature Preserve in the Kibale Forest Reserve. Supervised and managed game guards and maintenance workers, directed patrols and field work, supervised camp design, construction and maintenance. Assisted and hosted visiting researchers and guests, managed and operated a dormitory facility used by visitors.
Other Peace Corps volunteer responsibilities: Helped set-up and became first elected member of the Peace Corps-Uganda Volunteer Advisory Council, a conduit for information exchange between volunteers and Peace Corps Staff. Initiated, designed, developed, produced and edited a volunteer newsletter for volunteers posted in Uganda.
