I have over 30 years of experience of species conservation and protected area management; human–wildlife conflict mitigation; countering the illegal wildlife trade; conservation-related research; biodiversity surveys; monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL); impact evaluation; and wildlife policy formulation, including the writing and implementation of action plans. Much of my time since 1988 has been spent in Asia and, from 2007, Asia and Africa. I spent the 1990s living and working in protected areas in Java, advising on their management with a particular focus on ungulates, wild dogs, and leopards. From 1998, I focused on elephants, particularly on the development of reliable monitoring methods, human–elephant conflict mitigation, and, since 2004, the ivory trade and the illegal killing of elephants. I worked for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) for 18 years, working to conserve elephants in partnership with other NGOs, communities, and governments, and ultimately coordinating WCS’s elephant conservation work in Asia and Africa. In February 2018, I co-founded the NGO, Asian Arks, and served as its CEO until September 2020 with the aim of replicating and extending models of directly managing protected areas under long-term agreements with governments and communities, which the NGO African Parks and others have shown to be successful. From early 2018, I also worked as an independent consultant, partly to support the work of Asian Arks, which as a start-up was unable to pay for full-time staff. Consultancy projects completed include advising the Government of Mozambique on CITES policy, development of a threat monitoring protocol for protected areas and biodiversity offset sites in the Lao PDR, and a human–elephant conflict mitigation strategy for the Government of Gabon. Since December 2021, I have been employed by ZSL to lead the development of a robust conservation planning process to help ZSL’s teams design effective and adaptive long-term conservation strategies and deliver conservation impact.

I am Arefine. I am an anchor & reciter. In between my studies in zoology, I am involved in extra curricular activities. I focus on field studies since my undergraduate studies. Field study alone and observing became my addiction. Photography was also added to this addiction. Although watching nature, observing animals is my passion, the thought of working on a specific subject did not come to my mind. After that, I started working at the marginal level with snakebite patients during the Corona period. Then I chose calligraphy as a means of awareness to reach people quickly. Although I did not give priority to online then, I later built my organization called Kundali Foundation. Under the banner of this organization, i started the work of conveying the message of awareness to people called 'Be Aware Of Snake'.   I was able to deliver my message to 495 upazilas of Bangladesh. The war is still going on because the fear of snakes has not died down among people.

I am an ambitious biomedical professional with expertise in neglected zoonotic diseases and One Health. I hold a DVM and an MS from Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Bangladesh. I am interested in coordinating multistakeholder-engaged field activities, particularly to advocate sustainable animal welfare, wildlife conservation, and support developing policies related to public health. My goal is to continually enhance my skills to contribute to the advancement of both animal and human health. I am open to any short-term countryside and overseas projects.

With a master degree in Protected Areas Management, I am working in the wildlife conservation unit as part of my role at APASAT NGO. My role focus on data collection on wildlife, field assessments, human wildlife coexistence and local community’s engagement in conservation efforts. This includes project management, proposal writing for funding and team supervision. I am currently leading a project on Human-Wildlife Coexistence, specifically addressing coexistence challenges between communities and the Critically Endangered Red-bellied Monkey (Cercopithecus erythrogaster erythrogaster) in the Biosphere Reserve of Ouémé. I am leading the team to conduct primate population monitoring, assess the interactions between local populations and primates, undertake coexistence strategies through environmental education, alternative livelihoods, and non-lethal deterrents and enhance community involvement in conservation approaches.

I am currently the Leave Only Footprints Engagement Coordinator at BCP Council. Over the past few years, I have taken on a few different roles within the organisation, based at Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve following my BSc in Animal Behaviour and alongside completing my MSc in Biodiversity Conservation at Bournemouth University. Within my role, I engage with a wide range of people over a wide range of topics from litter to the local wildlife and habitats, with the aim of reducing negative behaviours and encouraging interest and passion for nature. I am also interested and have experience in collecting and analysing data around these subjects. I have previously held a role as a research assistant with Bournemouth University exploring the most effective ways/methods to engage young people with nature, through running focus groups and literature reviews. I have a special interest in the effect of being outdoors in nature on wellbeing, especially the bereaved, and have started a podcast called The Nature of Loss; sponsored by BCP Council.

As Head of Communications at Whitley Fund for Nature, I am responsible for leading the organisation’s communications strategy, using the charity’s platform to spread awareness about Whitley Award winners across WFN’s website and social media. I lead on campaigns, and support across the charity’s PR and events to raise the profile of Whitley Award winners. I'm also a Trustee of Born Free Foundation, and I founded The Wildlife Blogger Crowd in 2020; a virtual network of over 250 bloggers, social media influencers, podcasters, and filmmakers. In 2021, I published a book of our collective works, ‘Connections With Nature’.

I was a police officer in the UK for 25 years. I then retrained as an International Mountain Leader and have guided all over the world. In 2011, I won the Bronze in the Wanderlust Magazine World Guide Awards. I stumbled into conservation work, firstly in Borneo, and this opened my eyes to our need to change the way we do things. During the covid confinements when I could no longer work as a guide, I took to writing, and published a novel, Stonechild, where the famous London statues come to life with their important message on conservation. I also trained as a Climate Reality Leader. 

For unintentionally setting free a non-venomous injured wolf snake from my room, my college mates call me Snake-man because by doing so, they assumed I endangered their lives. You can find me with wild animals in the mountains, valleys, or plains because our addresses are somehow the same. Outside my job, I do herping and anyone who wants information on this group of animals besides other biodiversity, climate, and social science can contact me any time. Rest, I follow Allan Rufus’ dictum “Life is like a sandwich, birth as one slice and death as the other. What you put in between the slices is up to you. Is your sandwich tasty or sour?” So, it is me who makes my sandwich! Education-wise, I have a PhD Ecosystem Management (University of New England, Armidale, Australia), MSc Biodiversity, Wildlife, and Ecosystem Health (Edinburgh University, Scotland, UK), PG Diploma (Hons), Wildlife Management (Wildlife Institute of India), BSc Forestry (Royal University of Bhutan), and High Standard Professional Certificate (Forest Rangers' Course), Northeast Forest Rangers' College, Jalukbari, Assam (now Central Academy for State Forest Service, Burnihat, Assam, India). All my life, I studied Nature Conservation and related Ecological and Environmental Sciences and live to see how rapidly they change. I can do many things many people can do! I have been recently immortalized by a team of taxonomists from the British Museum as they named a torrent frog (Amolops wangyali) from eastern Bhutan after me based on the work I have done on Bhutan amphibians. Thus, frogs in military jackets around Trashigang may carry my name as their specific species epithet. But more than rejoicing, I feel stressed because I feel I should do more in this area and I don't have much time. So, you know...!

Eddy Nnanga est un ingénieur halieutique spécialisé dans la gestion et la gouvernance des Aires Marines Protégées (AMP) pour la conservation de la biodiversité marine. Avec 8 ans d'expérience, il a occupé des postes clés à l'African Marine Mammal Conservation Organisation (AMMCO) et coordonne actuellement des projets liés à la gestion de la Réserve de Faune du Lac Ossa et du Parc Marin Manyangue Na Elombo Campo. Son travail vise à concilier la conservation marine avec les intérêts des communautés locales riveraines. Eddy Nnanga possède une expertise dans la gestion des ressources marines le long de la côte camerounaise. Ses missions de caractérisation du modèle de gouvernance et d'évaluation de l'efficacité de gestion des aires marines protégées ont permis de mettre en lumière la diversité biologique des espèces aquatiques, les habitats benthiques et les zones de conflits entre la pêche artisanale et industrielle. En outre, ses activités de sensibilisation et de développement d'alternatives économiques pour les communautés côtières ont renforcé ses liens avec la population locale. Ses compétences se concentrent sur l'évaluation de la gestion des aires marines protégées, ainsi que sur l'élaboration de plans d'aménagement et de gestion.

I’ve been at ranger at Lee Valley Regional Park for five years managing a range of parklands and many of which are important wildlife conservation areas. My first involvement in practical conservation was with Kent Wildlife Trust where I completed a traineeship working on its Roadside Nature Reserves project and then later working full time as their Water for Wildlife Project Officer. I’m a keen botanist and love to share my experiences and passion for the natural world with others.

I'm passionate about Natural Resource Management and Environmental Conservation, Community Development, Sustainable livelihoods gender and social  inclusion, I have  strong background in partnership building, grant writing, and fundraising. My expertise lies in designing and implementing impactful projects in Natural Resource Management, climate resilience, adaptation and mitigation, Sustainable livelihood development, Community engagement,  stakeholder collaboration whilst ensuring long-term benefits for both communities and biodiversity. With over a decade of experience in the nonprofit and conservation sector, I have successfully mobilized resources, secured competitive grants, and led stakeholder engagements to drive sustainable solutions. I specialize in project planning, ecological research, advocacy, and training, equipping local communities with the knowledge and tools to build climate-resilient livelihoods. I'm adept at designing and implementing capacity-building programs, advocating for gender equality, and fostering social inclusion within marginalized communities. My expertise in resource mobilization, community engagement, and advocacy equips me to make meaningful contributions to empowering marginalized groups and supporting the growth of NGOs, INGOs, and MSMEs. I am eager to create  sustainable impacts through collaborative approaches involving stakeholders such as policymakers, donors, and entrepreneurs Key Achievements ✅ Secured Funding for Conservation Initiatives  ✅ Designed and Implemented Climate-Smart Livelihood Programs – Led initiatives in agroforestry, beekeeping, permaculture, and Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) to enhance food security and environmental sustainability. Skills & Expertise ✔ Grant Writing & Resource Mobilization ✔ Project Planning & Management ✔ Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships ✔ Climate-Smart Agriculture & Sustainable Livelihoods ✔ Conservation Advocacy & Community Empowerment ✔ Research, Monitoring & Evaluation ✔ Training & Capacity Building ✔ Policy Development & Risk Assessment ✔ Gender-sensitive conservation strategies Let’s Connect!

I'm a Trustee of WildTeam UK - an organisation providing conservationists with the training and skills needed to design and deliver their projects. I am also Director of the Whitley Fund for Nature - a London-based charity offering conservation leaders across the Global South funding (Awards), training and profile boost.

I am Diana a Conservation  Educator at Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre - Entebbe Zoo. My major work there  is communicating  Conservation Education through photography, videos ,recorded audios. and writing story pieces. My professional background is in Mass communication majoring in Journalism but with passion in Environment,Climate change and wildlife issues - That's why most of my stories will always rotate around those 3 subjects. I am also and adventurous person who loves exploring new interesting places, and more so if there's something for me to learn.