ITCER Newsletter – October 2025.

1 We are pleased to introduce the first issue of the renewed ITCER Newsletter. The purpose of this publication is to provide a clear and diverse overview of our current activities and developments. It is intended to inform members in Germany and Kenya, update our partners and supporters, and also invite new collaborators to join our cause. The newsletter is designed as an open and flexible format where different voices can be heard, while also providing essential information on what has been achieved, what is planned, and how readers can engage. This first issue marks the beginning of a format that we hope to grow and evolve with each edition. It includes background information on ITCER’s history, a description of the site in Ng’iya, and documentation of recent events and resources. Future issues will appear at irregular intervals whenever important developments or milestones arise. Each edition will feature both highlights and perspectives for the future, aiming to reflect the life of ITCER in an accessible and engaging way. — The ITCER Editorial Team The ITCER Newsletter will be issued in numbered volumes. This is Issue 1 / 2025. Future editions will continue in sequence (Issue 2, Issue 3, …), each indicating the respective year of publication. Because ITCER’s activities follow dynamic project phases rather than fixed cycles, the newsletter appears at irregular intervals instead of a strict annual schedule. This flexible system ensures that every issue documents substantial progress and key milestones. The numbering provides a reliable basis for citation and archiving while allowing publication timing to reflect the practical realities of our work. The Two NGOs and the ITCER Site The International Training Centre for Environmental Research (ITCER) operates as two complementary NGOs. In Germany, ITCER e.V. was founded in February 2017 by members of the University of Bayreuth, including Erwin Beck, Bernd Huwe, Gerhard Rambold, and John Tenhunen, to provide a formal base for a training centre in environmental sciences. It manages membership, supports funding applications, and maintains links with scientific institutions in Europe. In September of the same year, ITCER Kenya NGO was founded to implement activities on the ground, coordinate with local communities, and manage the site in Ng’iya. While both organizations share common roots, the Kenyan NGO has since broadened its membership. Newsletter – October 2025 International Training Centre for Environmental Research 2 Details on the current board members of both NGOs can be found on the ITCER homepage (https://itcer.org). Main building on the ITCER site The site is located in Ng’iya, Siaya County, about 60 kilometres from Kisumu and within short driving distance from Siaya town. Though compact in size, it is well equipped and highly functional. The building in the site includes a seminar room for up to 20 participants, a laboratory for ecological and microbiological analyses, as well as offices and storage facilities. A veranda adjoining the building offers space for meals and discussions during events. The surroundings make the site a natural laboratory in its own right. An experimental grassland plot is currently used by members of the University of Hohenheim, while a nearby area with bushy vegetation serves biodiversity studies. An additional adjacent plot has recently been acquired for agricultural experiments. Beyond these defined areas, the surrounding fields and vegetation offer further opportunities for ecological observations and training. Timeline of ITCER Development Over the past decade, ITCER has developed step by step, translating its original vision into practice. The establishment of ITCER e.V. in Germany in 2017 laid the foundation for a new type of training into environmental sciences. In that same year, activities in Kenya were formalised through the registration of ITCER Kenya as a sister organisation. In 2019, the first phase of building the Ng’iya site began, establishing the seminar room and essential infrastructure. By 2020 and 2021, the building was formally handed over, equipped with solar power and a water supply, and furnished for regular use. In 2022, laboratory benches and IT systems were installed, enabling the site to operate as a functional base. The following year, in 2023, the biodiversity monitoring pipeline was launched, linking thousands of image records with expert validation. In 2024, research activities were consolidated, additional IT infrastructure was installed, and cooperation with local institutions expanded. In 2025, ITCER enters the next phase with the integration of digital tools such as AI-assisted species recognition, mobile data collection applications, and a dedicated server system. Each of these steps was achieved with limited resources and a committed partnership from both, the German and the Kenyan NGOs. Grassland Biomes, Metabolomes, and Biomass Production (HOH-TUB Experiment) The project Interactions between Plant Diversity, Grassland Productivity and Fungal Biomes in Rural Areas of West Kenya (2/P/ 22/22356) explores how soil organisms, fungal communities, and plant diversity interact to influence grassland productivity in Siaya County. Work began while the ITCER site was still under construction, with the first 3 environmental sampling conducted in parallel with the establishment of the compound. Although the laboratory in Ng’iya was not yet fully operational, field collections from the surrounding grasslands already provided material for comparative analyses. These samples have since been processed in cooperation with partner laboratories in Germany, highlighting the strong international collaboration within ITCER’s projects. A central focus of this project is the role of fungal communities. Particular attention is given to groups that act as mycopathogens, which suppress plant pathogens and thereby contribute to grassland productivity and resilience. Another line of study addresses fungi that thrive in microplastic-enriched soils, where they serve as bioindicators. This phenomenon of plastiphily links environmental microbiology with medical relevance, as several plastiphilic fungi share virulence traits with human pathogens. The scientific background for this perspective has been established in peer-reviewed studies. In 2021, it was demonstrated that microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems tend to accumulate fungal pathogens (Scientific Reports). More recently, in 2024, the connection between plastiphily and virulence traits of medically relevant fungi was emphasised (Communications Earth & Environment). These findings form the conceptual framework for the activity in Siaya County, where fungal indicators are monitored in relation to grassland ecology and local agricultural conditions. Grassland plot and biomass harvesting Beyond one scientific scope, our experiment also has an applied dimension. It provides a basis for developing AI-assisted approaches to optimise grassland management for dairy farming. Data from Siaya County contribute to understanding on how plant diversity and soil microbiota affect the fodder quality and yield under varying management conditions. In this way, ecological insights from the experimental plots support more sustainable and resilient forms of grassland use that balance productivity, biodiversity, and soil health. The project also seeks to identify fungal strains with the potential to produce bioactive secondary metabolites. Such compounds may serve as starting points for developing antimycotic agents relevant to human, animal, and crop health. At the same time, data from the Ng’iya experimental plots offer practical insights into how different management regimes and restoration strategies influence both plant diversity and soil function. The initiative is supported by the Government of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, within the Tübingen–Hohenheim Africa Programme. Scientific leadership is provided by Andreas Schweiger and Michaela Dippold, who contribute 4 expertise in plant ecology, soil biogeochemistry, and metabolomic approaches. In cooperation with the University of Hohenheim, experiments test ecological and agricultural hypotheses directly on site. Dedicated experimental plots allow comparisons of different management regimes, restoration methods, and species mixtures. These plots serve as living laboratories closely integrated with student training activities. Taken together, the monitoring and experimental activities provide a comprehensive picture — broad-scale data from the surrounding landscape combined with detailed ecological studies on the ground. Monitoring Macrobiome Biodiversity in Siaya County This county-wide project aims to establish ecological baselines to inform renaturation and climate adaptation strategies. Fieldwork combines spatially distributed photographic surveys with DNA barcoding, covering vascular plants, insects, earthworms, macrofungi, birds, and other fauna. The Ng’iya experimental plots function as reference cores within a broader county grid. The purpose of this large-scale biomonitoring is to compile a general checklist of organisms, to gain insight into their interactions, life cycles, and the biology of genera and higher taxa, and to understand organismic communities in relation to land use and regional planning. In this way, the monitoring links biodiversity documentation with applied ecological knowledge and supports both education and land-use management in Siaya County. Monitoring expanded in 2024–2025, with most fieldwork conducted by Denice Maramba, who systematically documented plants, animals, and fungi across the county. His motorbike-based surveys enabled coverage of remote areas, while the standardised photographic framework ensured consistent records. Since early 2022, more than 35,000 images (including duplicates) have been collected, representing around 2,000 macrobiotic taxa. The dataset continues to grow without signs of saturation, forming the backbone for long-term ecological assessment. ITCER application for species recording The programme is designed to serve several purposes simultaneously. It generates an overall picture of biodiversity in the county and deepens biological understanding by revealing co-occurrences, seasonal dynamics, and ecological interactions. At the same time, it provides the county government with a sound evidence base for land-use planning and renaturation strategies. A further objective is to enable students and local contributors to gain practical experience in ecological monitoring and digital data analysis, allowing skills and responsibilities to develop progressively within the community. 5 Local motorbike riders and photographers will gradually participate, transforming their involvement into lasting scientific records. All results are integrated into GIS frameworks and shared globally through GBIF. This monitoring programme currently represents ITCER’s most comprehensive undertaking. Each photograph includes geographic coordinates, time stamps, and metadata, and is processed through the ITCER data pipeline. Expert validators review and confirm identifications, producing a dataset that is already exceptional in its density for this region. The monitoring captures not only common species but also rare interactions, seasonal dynamics, and ecological patterns that are essential for modelling networks of species relationships. Events Since its opening, the seminar room at the Ng’iya site has steadily developed into a place for exchange and training. The first seminars in 2019 accompanied the construction phase, bringing together local stakeholders and international collaborators. Although activities slowed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, small group meetings ensured continuity. From 2022 onwards, the room hosted planning sessions for the laboratory infrastructure, and in 2023 colleagues from the University of Bayreuth supported the practical setup of the laboratory during their visit. From 2024, seminars increasingly focused on fieldwork, including student briefings at the start of photographic monitoring and discussions related to the HOH-TUB experimental plots. The installation of the server in Ng’iya in the same year was accompanied by workshops introducing digital workflows and the ITCER database. By 2025, the emphasis had shifted to training sessions in which students and collaborators practised methods of field monitoring, image handling, and digital data entry. Together, these activities illustrate how the Ng’iya site is evolving into a regional hub for seminars, workshops, and training, supporting both project objectives and the longterm strengthening of local capacity in biodiversity monitoring and ecological restoration. Events at ITCER also extend beyond the site itself. Since 2018, Annual General Meetings (AGMs) have been held each year, initially in Germany and later with Kenyan members participating through hybrid or online formats. These meetings ensure continuity and accountability while providing a platform for new ideas. The 6th Annual General Meeting of ITCER e.V., held online in May 2023, brought together participants from Germany, Kenya, and Cameroon, reflecting the growing scope of activities in Ng’iya, including the launch of the biodiversity monitoring pipeline and the first larger workshops. Both NGOs — ITCER e.V. in Germany and ITCER Kenya — hold their Annual General Meetings separately, but overlapping memberships ensure regular information exchange and coordination between the two organisations. Since 2019, the Ng’iya site has hosted a series of workshops and training sessions, ranging from planning meetings and technical discussions to seminars on field methods and digital workflows. Participants have made use of the seminar room, veranda, and outdoor areas in flexible formats that combine formal instruction with practical site work. In October 2022, Profs Josphat Matasyoh and Phoebe Sikiku 6 brought students from Egerton University and Maseno University for a two-day workshop, during which projects from their institutions were presented and linked to ongoing ITCER activities. In November 2024, a workshop on training materials brought together young scientists, teachers, and NGO members. Similar events in earlier and later years have ensured continuity and provided regular opportunities for exchange between local and international contributors. Seminar room during workshop in Ng’iya Over the years, the Ng’iya site has welcomed numerous visitors in the context of seminars, workshops, and training activities. Among them, colleagues from the Universities of Hohenheim and Tübingen contributed to the establishment of the experimental grassland field, laying the groundwork for the HOH–TUB collaboration. Visitors at Ng’iya site Prof. Dieter Kleiner (University of Bayreuth) visited three times through the Senior Expert Service (SES) to support the laboratory, sharing his extensive experience with students and staff. During one of these visits, he was accompanied by a student from AGES, whose participation added a fresh perspective to the training sessions. From the IT side, colleagues from the SNSB IT Center in Munich contributed to the design of the GBIF data pipeline. Their expertise ensured that local data flows were aligned with international standards and that the monitoring infrastructure was developed with long-term compatibility in mind. These visits underline the importance of exchange: while ITCER builds capacity locally, international expertise provides guidance and momentum in laboratory work, field experiments, and digital infrastructure. It is not possible to mention all visitors over time, but some of the resulting collaborations will be presented in future editions of the newsletter. International Scientific Support The biodiversity monitoring in Siaya County generates large amounts of material that require careful identification. Experts from Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Sweden, and other countries have contributed their taxonomic knowledge, particularly for insects and other arthropods. Their input has already enhanced the quality of the dataset and provided a level of precision that could not yet be achieved locally. These contributions extend beyond technical support. They lay the foundation for joint research, and their importance will be reflected through co-authorship in forthcoming public- 7 ations. By acknowledging international partners in this way, ITCER ensures that collaboration remains transparent and mutually beneficial, while maintaining a strong focus on building local capacity one step at a time. IT Developments Beyond the physical site, ITCER has steadily evolved into a digital hub. A growing range of web-based tools now supports its mission and complements work in the field and laboratory. These include preprocessing pipelines that prepare biodiversity data for submission to GBIF, ensuring that images and observations are properly structured before integration into global infrastructures. Monitoring interface with species images Internally, image pipelines, metadata, and revision histories are managed through custombuilt tools that facilitate the daily work of biodiversity monitoring. Certain modules operate in a protected environment, including those for environmental sampling, taxonomy, regional GIS monitoring, cultural data, and secure image transfer. Financial management tools are also in place but serve a supporting function. By contrast, publicly accessible resources are designed to promote learning and engagement. These include the training materials portal, the macrobiome image archive, co-occurrence networks, examples of species interactions, and ethnobiology resources. A major milestone was the installation of the dedicated ITCER server in 2024, provided by the University of Tübingen and administered locally by Brian Oloo. It now hosts applications for field logistics, image classification, and taxonomic identification. The development of data models for automated organism recognition has begun, linking validated images from the monitoring pipeline to training workflows. These IT tools complement the central database with enhanced interfaces for taxonomy, licensing, and revision tracking, ensuring that ITCER’s outputs remain interoperable with GBIF and other international platforms. Together, these developments connect local data collection with global infrastructures and open new opportunities for education and research. Future issues of this newsletter will present selected ITCER software tools—both existing and in development—in greater detail, highlighting their functions and their role in supporting local and international collaboration. Laboratory Activities Laboratory infrastructure at the Ng’iya site made its first tangible progress in 2024, when benches and core hardware provided by the University of Bayreuth were installed. This enabled basic microscopy and sample handling, marking the beginning of on-site laboratory operations. Secure transport was arranged through FIT (Freight in Time), ensuring the safe delivery of equipment to Siaya. However, key consumables and reagents—particularly for molecular workflows—are still lacking. 8 The next milestone will be the production of PCR products for species barcoding, which depends on establishing a reliable supply chain for laboratory materials. Efforts are underway to identify suitable suppliers for reagents, while cooperation with partner laboratories in Germany continues to bridge current gaps and provide training for local staff. Lab benches and equipment setup at Ng’iya site Recent Highlights The highlight of the past year was the successful implementation of the biodiversity monitoring pipeline. For the first time, thousands of observations were not only collected but also validated and structured for longterm storage. This achievement demonstrates that ITCER can effectively connect local engagement with international data standards, building a bridge between field activities in Siaya County and global biodiversity infrastructures such as GBIF. The pipeline also illustrates how many small contributions can, in principle, be combined into a powerful dataset when organised systematically. In practice, however, more than 95% of all data collected so far originate from the dedicated fieldwork of Denice Maramba. His continuous motorbike-based surveys have formed the backbone of the dataset and highlight the essential role of committed individuals at this formative stage. At the same time, the open design of the pipeline allows for the integration of additional contributors as the network continues to grow. GBIF workshop in 2024 Local fieldwork, IT support through the new server administered by Brian Oloo, and the initial steps in laboratory preparation together form a solid foundation for long-term ecological assessment. Developments to Come The year 2024 brought situations that tested integrity and collaboration within the wider academic environment. From these challenges, ITCER drew renewed motivation to ground all cooperation in openness, shared responsibility, and verifiable contributions. These principles continue to guide its future plans and define the framework for the next phase of development. For 2025 and beyond, ITCER has set ambitious goals. AI-assisted species identification will reduce the workload for experts and accelerate the biodiversity pipeline. More local students will receive training in field ecology and 9 digital analysis. Interfaces with GBIF and other platforms will be strengthened to ensure seamless data exchange. At the same time, new international research initiatives led by members of the Universities of Hohenheim and Tübingen will build on the existing experimental plots in Ng’iya. The TERRA Cluster of Excellence (Terrestrial GeoBiosphere Interactions in a Changing World), launched in 2025, will use ITCER’s infrastructure as one of its field bases in tropical Africa. The project investigates soil–plant–microbe interactions under changing environmental conditions and involves Kenyan students and researchers in its activities. Another international programme coordinated by the University of Hohenheim, the BRIGHT-Futures project, brings together partners from Germany, India, and Kenya to explore sustainable agricultural systems and multifunctional land use in selected case regions, including Western Kenya. Future experiments may be conducted at or around the ITCER site, involving students and local farmers, subject to mutual agreement and logistical coordination. An additional adjacent plot will be used for crop cultivation, with the experimental design developed by colleagues from the University of Hohenheim. Another area next to the ITCER site will be dedicated to growing plants and conducting experiments with saturniid caterpillars, which are recognised as a valuable food source in several parts of tropical Africa. The laboratory will be further equipped with essential reagents to enable the isolation of microbial organisms—mainly fungi—and the extraction and amplification of DNA for species barcoding. This will form the basis for linking field observations with molecular data. The isolated fungi will also be used for secondary metabolite extraction, and the resulting compounds will be tested in bioassays. The IT infrastructure has been designed for future growth. The server rack provides sufficient capacity for additional components, and with stable temperature and humidity conditions, gradual expansion is feasible. Storage and memory can be increased as required, and at a later stage, further CPUs and graphics cards can be added for model training. Support for logistics, including digital tools for motorbike transport and data collection, will continue to be improved. Together, these developments build on the foundations already laid and will strengthen ITCER’s role as a centre for research, training, and local collaboration in the years ahead. Member Contributions The strength of ITCER lies not only in financial support but in the active involvement and preparation of its members. Contributions can take many forms: collaborating with students and local partners in the field, assisting with outreach through the newsletter or social media, or joining ongoing projects and contributing to analysis and publications. Members and supporters planning to organise courses, trainings, or other activities are encouraged to prepare them jointly with the local team, ensuring that arrangements can be made in good time on site. Courses or workshops may also be prepared locally on behalf of external organisers, allowing resources and participants to be in place when the activity begins. Early coordination helps