BADOU Akotchayé Sylvestre

Experience

Professional Experience
• 2024, Summer Training Organizer: Led a summer training program on the use of
miniaturized molecular equipment, including Bento Lab and Minion sequencer, in the forest
reserves of Wari-Maro and Ouémé Supérieur, Benin (July 3-20, 2024). Conducted on-site
practical field tests, collecting roots and fruiting bodies for DNA extraction on-site. The
Bento Lab, equipped with a thermocycler, a centrifuge (13,000 rpm), and gel
electrophoresis, was used to identify gaps in fruiting body-based surveys and to assess
climate change impacts on soil fungal composition. Funded by VLIR (Belgium).
• 2024, Scientific visitor at Ghent University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology,
Mycology Research Group, for capacity building on the use of the Bento Lab, a portable
mini-PCR device for DNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing (MinION Nanopore)
under real field conditions in the forests of Ghent, Belgium, as part of the project
“MYCOBLITZ IN BENIN: A LAB IN A BACKPACK” (Project Code: 31281 - Forestry
education/training), funded by VLIR-UOS (Belgium).
• 2024, Participant at the Symposium of Young Mycologists from Tropical Africa (SYMTA),
held from January 25 to 27, 2024. Funded by JRS BIODIVERSITY FOUNDATION,
International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT), SOCIETY FOR THE
PROTECTION OF UNDERGROUND NETWORKS (SPUN), The Systematics
Association (SA), IDEA WILD, and MANAGING INFECTIONS PROMOTING
SCIENCE (ESCMID).
• 2023, Postdoctoral Researcher in Biodiversity Monitoring and Conservation,
Specialization: Mycology, at the Laboratory of Mycology and Plant-Soil Fungus
Interactions, University of Parakou.
• 2023, Awareness Raising for Local Populations (farmers and woodcutters): Conducted
discussion groups using posters and short 15-minute videos on the adverse effects of
fragmenting the natural microhabitats of termites and Termitomyces species in the Wari-
Maro region. Funded by the British Ecological Society.
• 2023, Educating Local Populations: Provided information to local communities on the role
of Termitomyces species in climate resilience, ecological habitat restoration, and wealth
creation across all villages bordering the Wari-Maro Forest Reserve. Funded by the British
Ecological Society.
• 2023, Boosting Self-Confidence in Local Populations: Aimed at more effective and
inclusive integration of local communities in research for sustainable in-situ conservation
of Termitomyces species. Funded by the British Ecological Society.
• 2023, Educating on Conservation Laws: Educated local populations on available
regulations and laws regarding sustainable management of wild mushrooms and natural
habitats in Benin. Funded by the British Ecological Society.
• 2023, Three-Day Workshop Participation (February 20-22, 2023): Participated at the
University of Parakou (Benin) in training on best practices for fungal specimens,
preparation (“from field to fungarium”), the value of scientific archival biological
collections, the value of a DNA barcode bank for fungi, and practical training in fungal
species identification using microscopy and relevant literature, fungal tissue DNA
extraction, PCR amplification of the DNA barcode marker, and collection metadata
digitization in iNaturalist. Funded by the International Association for Plant Taxonomy
(IAPT).
• 2022, Integrative Taxonomy Training Course Participation: Participated in a training course
on integrative taxonomy at the University of Parakou (Benin) from September 12-23, 2022,
organized by the Tropical Mycology Research Unit and Plant-Soil Interaction (UR-
MyTIPS) and Meise Botanic Garden (Belgium) with financial support from the CEBioS
Program, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Belgium).
• 2022, Workshop on DNA Barcoding in Biodiversity Management: Participated in a
workshop on DNA barcoding in biodiversity management from April 21-30, 2022,
organized by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Belgium) and LaRAEAq
Laboratory with financial support from the CEBioS Program, Royal Belgian Institute of
Natural Sciences (Belgium).
• 2022, Production of 7,000 Seedlings for Reforestation: Produced 1,000 Isoberlinia doka
seedlings, 1,000 Isoberlinia tomentosa seedlings, 3,000 Afzelia africana seedlings, and
2,000 Pterocarpus erinaceus seedlings, which were planted in degraded natural habitats of
the Wari-Maro Forest Reserve.
• 2022, Training Farmers: Trained farmers in various nursery techniques for tree partners
(Isoberlinia doka and Isoberlinia tomentosa) with wild mushrooms in the Wari-Maro
region.
• 2021, Workshop Participation on Sustainable Management and Data Storage on the GBIF
Platform: Participated from September 1-10, 2021, at the University of Parakou, Benin.
• 2020, Principal Organizer of Mini-Symposium: Titled “Sustainable Exploitation and
Conservation of Edible Mushrooms and Their Habitats in Benin: Achievements and
Challenges” funded by the CEBioS Program, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
(Belgium). R.3.4-29 / 2020/065.
• 2020, Public Awareness on Best Practices: Conducted awareness-raising activities on
sustainable management and conservation of wild mushroom habitats in the Wari-Maro
Forest Reserve, Benin.
• 2019, Scientific Visitor in Integrative Taxonomy: Conducted open-access visits to edible
mushroom collections at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) and
Meise Botanic Garden (Belgium) from October 7-30, 2019, under the Global Taxonomic
Initiative (GTI) funding of the CEBioS Program.
• 2019, Data Collection on Ethnomycological Knowledge: Collected data on the disparity of
ethnomycological knowledge across sociocultural groups and villages using an innovative
local community sensitization method in the Wari-Maro region, Benin.
• 2019, Training Local Populations in Mushroom Cultivation: Trained local populations in
edible mushroom cultivation in the Wari-Maro region.
• 2019, Reforestation of Ectomycorrhizal Tree Partner Habitats: Reforested natural habitats
with Isoberlinia spp. and Afzelia africana trees in the Wari-Maro region.
• 2018, Independent Consultant for GIZ-Benin via UR-MyTIPS: In the framework of the
project “Sustainable Promotion and Exploitation of Wild Edible Mushrooms with Local
Populations in the WAP Complex.” PN 15.2047.7-001.00, Project No. 83293005.
• 2018, Mycological Training Course Participation: Participated in a two-week mycological
training course on professional photography and illustration of macromycetes from May
18-30, 2018, at the University of Parakou (Benin) in collaboration with Meise Botanic
Garden with financial support from the CEBioS Program.
• 2018, West African Mycological Expedition Participation: Participated from June 19 to July
15, 2018, funded by the National Geographic Society, Grant No. CP129R-17.
• 2018, Habitat Degradation Data Collection : Collected data on habitat degradation (satellite
image compilation of fungal habitats) and quantitative data on fresh biomass of certain
useful mushroom species.
• 2018, Establishment of a Local Committee: Created a local committee to monitor new or
adapted management practices. The committee comprises selected stakeholders.
• 2018, Scientific Visitor in Integrative Taxonomy: Conducted open-access visits to edible
mushroom collections at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) and
Meise Botanic Garden (Belgium) from September 3-30, 2018, under GTI funding of the
CEBioS Program.
• 2017, Scientific Visitor in Integrative Taxonomy: Conducted open-access visits to edible
mushroom collections at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) and
Meise Botanic Garden (Belgium) from November 3 to December 2, 2017, under GTI
funding of the CEBioS Program.
• 2017, Wild Ectomycorrhizal Mushroom Collection: Collected boletes (ectomycorrhizal
wild mushrooms, Fungi Basidiomycota) in woodlands and gallery forests in northern Benin
over six months (June-October) using transects based on the presence of partner trees such
as Isoberlinia spp., Uapaca spp., Monotes kerstingii, Berlinia grandiflora, etc.
• 2017, Statistical Analysis Seminar Participation: Participated in a seminar on statistical
analysis using R software from April 3-5, 2017, at the University of Parakou, Benin.
• 2017, Scientific Writing Techniques Seminar Participation: Conducted by the Royal
Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Belgium) on November 23, 2017, in Brussels,
Belgium.
• 2016, Ecological Monitoring Study: Collected data on wild edible mushroom production
(fresh and dry biomass estimation) in relation to microclimatic, floristic, and soil
physicochemical parameters (June-October 2016) in the Ouémé Supérieur Forest Reserve
in northern Benin, under a project on natural ectomycorrhizal mushroom production facing
climate change funded by the Swedish Scientific Council.
• 2015, Dendrometry Data Collection: Collected dendrometry data such as density, Diameter
at Breast Height (DBH), Total Height, Circumference for ectomycorrhizal tree partners in
the Ouémé Supérieur Forest Reserve.
• 2012, Population Structure Study of Parkia biglobosa: Collected quantitative data (density,
DBH, Total Height, Circumference) to assess the population structure of Parkia biglobosa
in the Ouémé Supérieur Forest Reserve in northern Benin.