Big Sky Conservation Institute - International Internships

In summer of 2002, supported by Trust for Mutual Understanding, two Russian activists traveled to come to Southern California and our offices in Missoula, Montana to receive advanced GIS training. With over 20 other Society for Conservation GIS scholars, they learned the latest in GIS technology at the James San Jacinto Mountains Reserve in Southern California before traveling to Arizona to visit the Navajo Indian Reservation. Here they were shown how tribal officials utilize GIS to aid in their decisions and management of their lands. The interns then traveled to the Anza-Borrego Desert for the Society for Conservation GIS Conference and then on to San Diego for the ESRI User's Conference, where all scholars presented their work from home. After the Conferences the Interns received another week of training from ESRI instructors in Redlands, then traveled up to Montana to work with our GIS staff for three weeks before heading home.

In the fall of 2002, with help from the ESRI Conservation Program, the Native Forest Network, and anonymous donors, our International Program was able to bring two more interns here to Missoula. Sandro Espinoza from Chile and Pascal Andriamanambina from Madagascar worked with our GIS staff to expand their GIS skills and improve their understanding of ArcInfo 8.x.

	Elena Troeva Eyge, Yakutsk, Rep. of Sakha, Russia Elena is a geobotanist working for NGO Eyge on GIS analysis of the present protected areas network effectiveness in preservation of Yakutian rare plant species and plant communities. Elena runs this project together with Boris Borisov who was an intern in 2000. She also works for the Northern Meadow Cultivation Institute, where her research is focused on ecological assessment of pastures in Central Yakutia. Elena will utilize the skills she obtained during her internship in the both projects. While in Missoula, besides working on her projects in the GIS lab, Elena took an opportunity to use the library at the University of Montana, where she was able to find specific literature on geobotany that gave her knowledge necessary to be more effective in her work. You can email to Elena at tei01@yandex.ru
	Igor Prokofiev NGO Viola, Bryansk, Russia Igor is the Executive Director and GIS specialist for NGO Viola in Bryansk, Russia. Igor's group Viola helped coordinate our International Program GIS Training seminar in Bryansk during the winter of 2001-2002. We identified Igor as a highly motivated individual eager to expand his familiarity with GIS. After his training Igor used GIS technology to advise local officials on the best location for a new landfill in his city so that waterways and the surrounding environment were protected to the fullest. Igor's email address is viola@online.bryansk.ru
	Pascal Andriamanambina Fort Dauphin, Madagascar Pascal visited Missoula in November 2002, trading in his sandals and shorts for winter clothing. He overcame the cold weather and actively pursued the nuts and bolts of ArcInfo 8.x. Pascal has been a pioneer in GIS in southern Madagascar, assisting the Lebanon Ecology Center and the World Wildlife Fund Madagascar with numerous GIS projects. You can contact Pascal at rubis3@yahoo.com
	Sandro Espinoza Punta Arenas, Chile Sandro came to work with us in Missoula after working collaboratively on the Gondwana Forest Campaign in southern Chile. Sandro fit in well in Missoula, with our cold, gray winter reminding him of home. He maximized his time at our lab by taking ESRI online courses (thanks to the ESRI Conservation Program) and learning all he could about ArcGIS 8.x. Sandro is currently the GIS Specialist for the city of Punta Arenas, Chile.