OAS Agro-Forestry Research Project

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES - AGRO FORESTRY RESEARCH PROJECT
Development of sustainable land-use systems on degraded tropical pastures in Belize, Central America, as a model for Mesoamerica and the Caribbean.

COURSE MATERIAL

	INTRODUCTION OF COURSE MATERIAL 2006 Juanita Garcia Saqui, is a committed advocate of conservation and protection of Belize's natural resources, currently a master student at the University of Florida (UF) in the area of "Growth Rates of Hardwood Tree Species in Monoculture and Mixed Species Agroforestry Systems" in Belize. She has been contracted through the project to develop course materials in close collaboration with the project objectives and the School of Natural Resources and Environment in Florida. The idea is to provide reference material for students according to their ongoing curriculum at the Universities, Collages and High schools in Belize. The newest course material is now available in digital form and can be requested at the project headquarters in Belmopan.

	Project Year 2005/2006	Topic 1: An Introduction to Soils
		Topic 2: Cultural Practices in Agro forestry
		Topic 3: Introduction to pest management

	Project Year 2004/2005	Topic 1: Sustainable development in forestry
		Topic 2: Ecoforestry
		Topic 3: Tropical Forest Ecosystem and Landscape Management

	Project Year 2003/2004	Topic: Sustainable Land Use Systems

	INTRODUCTION OF TRAINING COURSE 2006 In this project year the training courses of the OAS Agro-Forestry research project is scheduled in cooperation with Galen University and St. Johns College. Both institutions have expressed interest about the possibility of students training during summer break. The training course at St. Johns College will be conducted from 3rd until the 14th of July and the training course at Galen will be carried out from 17th to 28th of July 2006. Course title: "Photosynthesis, Water and Nutrients: How Life Keeps Going…" Course Description: This intensive field course will combine both theory and practical experience to introduce students to basic plant physiology by exploring how plants are able to make food using sunlight, carbon dioxide and water in addition to obtaining a detail understanding of the importance of water and nutrients to the survival of plants and, by extension, the survival of humans. The training course material is now up-dated and designed for undergraduate students to receive 3 credits in biology. This improvement has been achieved through an increase in the quality of course in close cooperation with teachers and faculty member in Belize. We hope that the course could become self sustainable for more students in Belize. If you are interested , please contact Sylvia Baumgart Laasner at the project headquarter in Belmopan

	Course Outline 2006	Topic: Introduction to Agroforestry: "Photosynthesis, Water, Nutrients and Human Impacts"

	If you are interested in obtaining the course material or to paticipate in a training course, please contact: Dipl. Ing. Sylvia Baumgart Laasner, Project Consultant & Coordinator #81 Constitution Drive P.O. Box 198 Belmopan City Belize, Central America Tel./Fax: +501-822-1076 Cell: +501-604-9483 Email: sylvia_laasner@gmx.net or sylvialaasner@architecture-projectmgmt.com