In October 2022, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Dr. Toni Lyn Morelli and Dr. Cybil Nicole Cavalieri to travel to Tanzania on a scoping mission for a Spatial analysis of Climate Change Vulnerability for Tanzanian Biodiversity project. While in Tanzania, they met with USAID, partners, and stakeholders to listen to feedback on modeling efforts and to develop target species for climate change vulnerability assessments and climate change refugia maps. They also met with the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TWRI) to discuss data sharing and future collaborations on this project. Dr. Morelli and Dr. Cavalieri also conducted site visits to key ecosystems in the Eastern Arc mountains and western Tanzania. 

The relationships developed and knowledge gained during this in-person visit will be especially helpful as the RRC continues to work on expanding climate refugia research across the planet!