Our work to save birds and other wildlife spans counties, countries and continents. This International Women’s Day, meet some of the incredible women working in our Conservation Programmes team to create a brighter future for nature. Read on to discover more about their varied and vital work.
The RSPB is working with a huge range of partners to share conservation expertise and knowledge, including in some incredibly special landscapes across the world. Let’s start in the Gola rainforest of West Africa to meet our first colleague.
Jenna Barker is a Technical Advisor, Research and Monitoring, working in the Gola Rainforest of Sierra Leone.
As Jenna explains, the role involves work with some fantastic wildlife: “I have the amazing role of being on the ground in Sierra Leone working alongside the Research and Monitoring department of the not-for-profit company Gola Rainforest Conservation. I support the team in all aspects of collecting data in the rainforest on incredible species such as Western Chimpanzee, Pygmy Hippos, White-necked Picathartes, and Forest Elephants, as well as carbon stocks to monitor the impacts of the REDD+ Project.”
With such a fascinating remit, what does Jenna enjoy most about her role? “I love the versatility of my role, jumping between camera trapping, to managing projects focused on Pygmy Hippo conservation, to conducting training, to trialling innovative data collection methodologies, and of course welcoming visiting RSPB colleagues! However, above all else is the enthusiasm and dedication of the Sierra Leonean team we support and advise. Their passion for conserving their forest and improving the lives of the forest-edge communities makes the challenges and heat all worth it!”
Jenna (centre) undertaking camera trap training with colleagues, Nyallay a Research Technician for Gola Rainforest Conservation (left) and Nazi, a primatologist (right). © Ryan Wilkie/RSPB.
We’ll now move from one forest to another – this time to the cloud forest of St Helena, a UK Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic. Shayla Ellick, St Helena Cloud Forest Project Co-ordinator, works with a wide group of partners who have all come together to help restore the forest: “We are working to restore the UK's last natural cloud forest for water security, biodiversity and people. I co-ordinate delivery of the project across our various partners and support with project promotion and advocacy.”
There’s a lot to like about this work, as Shayla explains: “I love how varied it is. I get to work with incredibly passionate people and learn more about their work from cloud forest restoration to seed collection and storage; invertebrate studies to fern micropropagation; and geology, geophysics and water research. I also get to participate in community and youth advocacy and outreach; and promote all of the amazing work underway. As a Saint (a St Helenian), I'm also proud to be working on a project which will safeguard our incredible endemics (species found only on St Helena), and our island's water security for future generations of St Helenians.”
Shayla is proud to be working on a project that will safeguard St Helena’s endemic species and water security for generations to come. © Zedella Young.
Our final rainforest tale comes from colleague Olivia Rondonuwu, Harapan Conservation Project Manager. Hutan Harapan is one of the last remaining fragments of lowland rainforest on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The RSPB has been working with PT REKI, BirdLife International and Burung Indonesia (BirdLife Indonesia) to protect and restore Hutan Harapan since 2007. Covering more than 98,000 hectares, Hutan Harapan is critically important for nature and is also an important store of carbon. It is home to a host of rare animal and plant species, including the Critically Endangered Sumatran Tiger as well as three hundred species of bird, including the world’s rarest stork, the Storm’s Stork.
Olivia explains more about the role: “My work involves coordinating the RSPB's Harapan Programme Plan, the fundraising efforts, as well as devising action plans for Harapan's communications for the RSPB.” Communicating about this amazing place is a highlight of the role: “My favourite part is finding, and telling, stories that will testify to the importance of protecting Harapan Rainforest for the long-term.”
Olivia coordinates the RSPB’s Harapan Conservation Programme plan. © Lahiru Wijedasa.
Altyn Dala, or the ‘golden steppe’ of Kazakhstan is home to some incredible wildlife, including the Saiga Antelope. For the past two decades, the RSPB has been working in partnership with the Association for the Conservation of the Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK), the Government of Kazakhstan, and other international partners to help conserve this landscape.
Michaela Butorova-McGurk is Project Manager for the RSPB’s Kazakh Steppe (Altyn Dala) work: “I coordinate our work across the Kazakh Steppe programme with our in-country Birdlife partner, ACBK, managing a multitude of activities in the realm of species recovery, site management, conservation research, people engagement, policy advocacy and communications. This work is part of a wider international partnership, the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, where I represent the RSPB on the Operating Group.”
For Michaela, it's the people that make the work so interesting: “I love connecting with people and facilitating coordination among various partners and projects. Our Altyn Dala partnership is such a force, full of passionate people working on unique species and habitats across the vast Kazakh steppes, and I really enjoy bringing us together behind a shared vision to make even stronger impact.”
Michaela’s work takes her to the steppe of Kazakhstan where she works with partners to conserve this important landscape. © Michele Bowe/RSPB.
We’ll head to the UK now to visit colleagues Viv and Nicola. The RSPB has over 200 nature reserves where we manage special habitats and create the perfect conditions for a huge range of species.
Let’s meet Viv Booth, Senior Ecologist, whose role takes her to some of our wonderful reserves, including RSPB Minsmere on the Suffolk coast. Viv explains more about her role: “My job involves guiding and supporting conservation land management work and monitoring on our reserves. I work particularly closely with the Suffolk nature reserves but I am also a seabird specialist with a UK remit.”
And what are the best bits of the role? “Working with the nature reserves teams to solve ecological issues and seeing nature respond.”
Viv’s role involves working with our nature reserves to advise on habitat management and monitoring © Guy Anderson/RSPB.
Monitoring the effectiveness of conservation interventions is a core element of LIFE Monitoring Officer, Nicola Dempster’s work. Nicola explains: “My role involves leading and supporting with monitoring the impact of the ‘LIFE 100% Favourable’ project management interventions across 11 nature reserves in Scotland.”
The ‘LIFE 100% Favourable’ project is working to boost the condition of key ‘features’ (habitats and species populations) on a selection of the RSPB’s Scottish nature reserves.
For Nicola, time spent outside is a really valuable part of the role: “I absolutely love the fieldwork, getting outside, exploring some of the best nature spots in Scotland! I particularly enjoy it when I am not being eaten alive by midges, and there are lots of cool plants to look at!”
Nicola’s role involves fieldwork in some of the best nature spots in Scotland, including here at Insh Marshes surveying for the Least Yellow Waterlily © Nicola Dempster/RSPB.
We also carry out dedicated conservation activities to help a species or group of species to recover.
Let’s head to the uplands now and meet Jaki Bell and Suzannah Rockett who work on the Curlew LIFE project, a project dedicated to reversing Curlew population declines in five landscapes across the UK.
Jaki is Project Coordinator: “I coordinate some of the administration and logistics of the project and also look after our communications, including the Curlew LIFE website and social media. I'm also a volunteer for the project, carrying out monitoring surveys in northern England.”
The best bits? “I love that the role is so varied and I particularly enjoy getting out to visit our project areas. I also love being part of the RSPB and crossing paths with colleagues in so many fascinating roles and with such a high level of expertise.”
Jaki works on the Curlew LIFE project, and also undertakes Curlew surveys in the north of England © Jaki Bell/RSPB.
Suzannah is Senior Project Manager for the Curlew LIFE project: “My job involves managing the central aspects of the project and ensuring that site teams have the tools they need to do conservation work for Curlews – from budgeting to sharing information between sites and departments.” And the best bits? “Getting to visit our beautiful landscapes! And having a positive impact.”
Suzannah’s role involves managing the Curlew LIFE project. This work takes her to some beautiful landscapes across the UK, including here at Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland. © Suzannah Rockett/RSPB.
We’re off to the coast next to meet Lizzie Bruce, Senior Project Manager, who leads the England Beach Nesting Bird Programme. Lizzie explains: “My role brings together conservation partners to improve the recovery of our increasingly vulnerable beach-nesting birds, primarily Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher and Little Tern.”
And what does Lizzie enjoy most about the role? “Enabling teams to have what they need to succeed. And testing and trialling solutions, for example last year I led a project to test ways to boost Ringed Plover hatching success.”
Lizzie manages our work to help beach-nesting bird species in England. © Lizzie Bruce/RSPB.
We’ve met colleagues whose work is focussed on helping species in the UK, so let’s now turn our attention to those helping species across the world.
Mary Davies is a Species Recovery Officer. As Mary explains, one of her focuses is vultures: “I work in the Global Species Recovery team on some of our international priority species. The majority of my work is on the Asian vulture programme, working with partners in South and Southeast Asia to improve the status of globally threatened vultures.”
Vultures in Asia experienced a rapid and dramatic population decline in the 1990s. The White-rumped Vulture population dropped by 99.9% while Long-billed and Slender-billed Vulture populations fell by over 97%. The RSPB has been working with partners in the region for many years to understand the reasons behind the declines and address them.
As with much of our work, collaborating with partners is key, and it’s something that Mary enjoys: “It's great to work with in-country partners. To understand and support their work, and appreciate the different challenges they face, is eye-opening but can be hugely rewarding.”
Mary’s role focuses on our international species work, which takes her to places such as India and Nepal © Jenny Weston/RSPB.
Jenny Weston is a Senior Species Recovery Officer. As Jenny explains, her work is focussed on projects to save globally threatened species: “I work on the RSPB's international priority species, developing and managing projects to save some of our most globally threatened species. This includes vultures and Steppe Eagles in Europe, Africa and Central Asia.”
Jenny’s role has taken her to several international meetings, including most recently the Convention on Migratory Species Conference of the Parties in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Working with partner organisations is a real plus of the role for Jenny: “I love the huge number of people around the world I get to work with; our partners are amazing. Getting to see the conservation work in action and these endangered species is always a highlight too.”
Jenny’s role has taken her to several international meetings, including the Convention on Migratory Species Conference of the Parties in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. © Jovan Andevski.
As you’ll have seen, much of our work is project-based. This makes managing the finances and smooth-running of projects a critical component of our conservation work.
Pamela Braham, Finance and Reporting Manager, knows all about this: “I work in the Project Development and Support Unit and manage the financial management arm of the team. I am responsible for the financial reporting and monitoring of high value grant funded projects, ensuring grant compliance, completing grant audits, liaising with our Project Partners and Project Managers as well as providing advice on day-to-day finance issues, budgeting and risk.”
Overcoming challenges and working with others are some of the highlights of the role: “I love helping colleagues and working with our international partners. I like to learn new things and problem solve urgent curve balls to ensure work can continue on the ground. Overcoming challenges is very satisfying, even if stressful at the time!”
Pamela works on the financial management of our projects. © Irene Sabiniarz/RSPB.
To close our blog, we hear from Jo Gilbert, Director of our Conservation Programmes team. Jo explains her role: “My role is about enabling the RSPB and partners to set up conservation delivery programmes at scale to restore landscapes and recover species. I work mostly in partnerships internationally, aimed at protecting and restoring rainforests, cloud forest, islands and the East Atlantic flyway.”
And the best bit? “I love getting out into the field to meet the amazing teams working with the species, habitats and local communities. From my early career in wetland management, I still get excited about days when I get the chance to put on my boots and get muddy.”
Jo’s role involves enabling the RSPB and partners to set up conservation delivery programmes to restore landscapes and recover species. © Simon Busuttil/RSPB.
We hope you’ll agree that we have some fantastic colleagues doing some incredibly important conservation work right across the world. So much of our work is about people and fostering strong relationships and we’re proud to shine a light on just some of the people that make our work happen.
