The BioNet-Pacinet Volunteer Program

By Nazrana Nisha & Gilianne Brodie

PACINET volunteer, Nazrana Nisha

BioNET -PACINET has recently established a formal volunteer program that primarily aims to raise awareness of the role taxonomy plays in environmental management and provide interested regional people with valuable work experience that contributes to PACINET program goals. Six volunteers (3 males and 3 females) have recently submitted formal applications to the program and are now working on a variety of taxonomically related projects. Projects are individually tailored to fit each volunteer's available time and personal interests. The volunteers are eager and enthusiastic for anything that relates to increasing environmental friendliness.

One student volunteer Api Cokanasiga says about his project ""Its quite interesting to find out about invasive species found here in Fiji. I am really glad that I took up this volunteer project because I get to learn new things that can help me in my courses." Most volunteers say it is their interest in supporting conservation that has led them to assist with this program. They also believe that the program is a baseline for those wishing to do further studies, it provides them with an opportunity to learn and improve their research skills, as well as developing better communication with others. Not forgetting also that the experience that they gain from such work can be beneficial for their curriculum vitae as well as better equip them for future work place endeavors. As Nazrana says... "to keep a fish, learn what it eats."