Distances look shorter, methods seem simpler and the prospect of a summer of fieldwork in the hills sounds positively straight forward.

Fast forward to mid-May, a Spring that hasn’t arrived yet, snow capped mountains and a plant harder to find that a proverbial needle; and even the best intentioned plans seem a tad optimistic.

I’ve just returned from my first foray of the year in search of Dwarf Birch. A small, rather unassuming plant, but a symbol of a disappearing montane woodland habitat in the Scottish Highlands. Despite it’s small stature, this plant will (hopefully!) help us understand topics as far ranging as climate change, habitat fragmentation and hybridisation. And that’s why last week I found myself in Scotlands back and beyond, trudging through bogs and peering through the heather looking for small, relict, lost populations of this plant.

Jokes of how beautiful my office is aside; all did not quite go to plan. In fact, nothing went to plan. I didn’t manage to find a single plant!

Never the less, it was great to be out in the field looking at the habitats and learning from knowledgeable people. It seems that many historic populations have disappeared in recent decades, which only highlights how important conservation will be. As always, fieldwork brings a steep learning curve, and I’ll be back up next week for another go.

In the mean time, if you’re at all interested in this disappearing habitat, then have a look at the fantastic project website: www.mountainwoodlands.org

Mountain Woodland Fieldwork

Searching for Mountain Woodlands in Glen Gary

Wind Turbines are a little controversial to say the least..

Willow Catkins

Some chap

The infamously named 'Black Water River'

A cracking camping spot high up in the Cairngorms

The infamously named 'Black Water River'

Looking everywhere..

The wonderfully remote loch Esk

P.s. I’ll be posting pictures and blogging as I go over on Facebook and Instagram.

The International League of Conservation Photographers

In an ideal world, scientists should pin all their hopes on carefully presented graphs, charts, tables and data.

Presenting sound evidence should be enough to convince policy makers and the public of the benefits of conservation.

But rightly or wrongly, sometimes that isn’t enough.

I’ve spoken to a lot of audiences about conservation and science, most recently focusing on the Dhofar Mountains. The hundreds of species of birds, the rare and little studied reptiles, the frankincense forests and vivid landscapes… I show the evidence, collected over weeks in the field, for conserving this natural gem. But, nearing the end of the talk, it’s the faint black and white image of a wild Arabian leopard peering through the gloom that always seems to win them over with a collective gasp.

It’s the photographs that act as ambassadors for conservation projects around the world. They speak louder than any number of words in a report sitting unread on a desk. That’s why conservation photography is so important.

It’s an art too, and the photographers featured in the video above are surely at the top of their game. But perhaps the beauty is that now anyone can take photographs, anyone can tell a story and contribute to conservation projects that matter to them.

So, if you haven’t already, take a look at the projects the iLCP have undertaken around the world.

FLICKR: Inspiring Conservation Images

I run a little side project on flickr, attempting to gather together some of the best conservation fieldwork images on the internet-universe. You can join the group on this link.

Here’s a selection of the best images so far, complete with salamanders, wolves and scientists standing on landrovers.

Even the nerdy among you will have to admit that wildflowers don’t quite have the same charisma as the big megafauna, and I won’t resort to extolling the importance of them in our ecosystems (even though they are really really important: e.g. bees!).

The simple fact is that counting flowers sounds whimsical, but essentially boring. That is until you give it a go and start telling your Cow Parsley from your Hemlock; Great Willowherb from your Indian Balsam; discover the mouthful that is the Common Birds’-foot-trefoil or the elegant Lords-and-Ladies.

Here’s how to get involved…

Plantlife Updates…

• The wild plants of May May 9, 2013
  Posted by Dr Seona AndersonHawthorn blossom © Andrew Gagg / PlantlifeMay Day, the month of May and the ancient festival of Beltane are all strongly associated with wild plants.The Beltane fire festivals at the start of May are still celebrated in many countries across Europe. The festival was half way between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, at th […]
• The plants of Easter March 28, 2013
  Posted by  Dr Seona AndersonDressing down the Loch Shiel aspen.Several of our native wild plants are associated with the Biblical traditions of Easter and Easter celebrations. Ever since Christianity was adopted in the British Isles there has been the problem of finding substitutes for the palm leaves used to celebrate Palm Sunday or the arrival of Jesus in […]
• Good news and bad news from Wales March 11, 2013
  Posted by Dave Lamacraft, Plantlife Cymru Lower Plants OfficerRed eyed shingle lichen – thought, until recently to be extinct in Wales. Image © Dave Lamacraft. The announcement that three more cases of ash dieback have been discovered in Wales is a poignant counterpoint to the discovery last week of a lichen thought to be extinct in Wales.The importance of t […]

Other Useful Resources…

Resource Index

Aspiring conservationist? Interested in expeditions and adventure? Browse some resources that might be useful…

Lists and Tips

Useful nuggets of information in no particular order…

Fieldwork Interviews:

Articles from field scientists describing the reality of working in remote and challenging conditions around the world, with tips for aspiring conservationists…

Crowdfunding conservation is for me, just another cracking example of Citizen Science. Sometimes people don’t have the time, know-how, or desire to get involved with conservation at home or abroad, but they want to do something – and so crowdfunding can provide the answer.

So, how about using it for conservation? Well, here’s 10 great projects aiming to crowdfund conservation.

1. Watching Clouds in the Cloud Forest

Amount Raised: $1,912

Number of backers: 35

Project: Scientific equipment

Greg Goldsmith and his team are aiming to improve understanding about how climate change might affect vulnerable tropical montane cloud forests.

“Tropical montane cloud forests are home to an incredible number of plant and animal species. Our research site, the world famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Monteverde, Costa Rica is home to over 500 species of orchids and over 400 species of birds alone, many of which occur nowhere else on the planet. Because of their beauty and biodiversity, cloud forests are often centers for ecotourism, providing livelihoods for the people that live around them.”

“We are asking for your contributions to help us purchase a visibility sensor that will monitor cloud cover in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. With this equipment, we will be able to study how plants and animals interact with the clouds that define this ecosystem, as well as monitor how cloud cover is changing over time.” Read more..

2. Return of the Black Turtle

Amount Raised: $11,766

Number of backers: 110

Project: Conservation Photography

Niel Osborne and J. Nichols aim to tell the remarkable conservation story of Grupo Tortuguero and the rare Black Turtle.

“By land, by sea, and by air, Return of the Black Turtle will retrace J.’s efforts to build Grupo Tortuguero. With the initial help of a handful of pioneering fisherman, J. and his team have been able to protect the turtles from every angle, growing an expansive network by engaging researchers, government agents, ex-convicts, drag racers, as well as the Seri Indians of coastal Sonora, for whom sea turtles have long held important nutritional, utilitarian, and cultural value.”

“Return of the Black Turtle will be a conservation photography expedition that proves the power of a symbiotic relationship between biology and art, science and storytelling. It will be a narrative rooted in scientific exploration, animated by the colorful characters of the Mexican coastline. It will be told through the personal anecdotes that connect cultural tradition and folklore, corrupt officials and poor fishermen, unmitigated pollution and against-the-odds survival.”

3. Asian Elephant Conservation Documentary

Amount Raised: $10,710

Number of backers: 152

Project: Documentary

A film about conservationists inventing innovative strategies to alleviate the pressure of human elephant conflict in Sri Lanka.

“Common Ground is an independent documentary collaboration with the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society. The elephant and the people of Sri Lanka have shared a cultural bond and relationship that is over 5,000 years old. Today this relationship is in danger of disintegrating mainly due to the loss of elephant habitat that is creating intense conflicts between people (mostly rural subsistence farmers) and elephants.”

The project hopes to raise sufficient funds to complete and produce the documentary.

4. Preserving The Azores Bullfinch

Amount Raised: $13,535

Number of backers: 426

Project: Conservation Fieldwork

“The Azores bullfinch – the priolo (Pyrrhula murina) – is an endangered species endemic to the eastern mountains of the island of São Miguel in the Azores (Portugal). Considered almost extinct in the 20th century with numbers dropping to just 300, today there is a small population of just over 1,000 priolos in total. Its habitat is highly threatened by the invasion of alien plant species.

The work so far has focused on the preservation of two critical habitats of São Miguel Island: Azores laurel forest and the Azorean peat bogs. Overall, we have already recovered about 350 hectares of natural habitats in the eastern mountains of São Miguel Island; this was only possible with the hard work of an experienced and qualified team, this has created over 20 jobs/year in nature conservation in the two most rural and remote councils of the island.

The bird is not only a national treasure and endemic, it is also a part of the Azorean and the world’s biodiversity. We need to monitor the areas and the bird so that we can prevent new invasions by alien plants in the main natural areas. To maintain the forest, it is essential to control new invasions and propagate approximately 30,000 plants per year and plant them to increase food availability for the priolo. At least $60,000 are required to maintain the more urgent work. We need your help to raise a significant part of these funds.”

Find out more about the Azores bullfinch project..

5. Empty Hands, Open Arms

Amount Raised: $4,223

Number of backers: 60

Project: Book

Empty Hands Open Arms tells the story of a different approach to rainforest and wildlife conservation. Deni Bechard followed the work of Congolese and American conservationists in the Congo rainforest together with the Bonobo Conservation initiative.

The conservationists that Deni writes about “work with the values of local people, with their folklore and spiritual beliefs, in order to create cultural support for conservation. They focus on community consensus and finding ways to address the needs of the local people through conservation. The result is a conservation movement that might be characterized as viral, neighboring communities creating their own protected areas with virtually no funding.”

This Kickstarter project aims to raise enough money to finish writing a book about his experiences; inspired through having witnessed how they have been able to set up numerous reserves for this iconic species, with limited funds.

6. Documenting Rare Species: Blue Spotted-Jefferson Salamander

Amount Raised: $3,509

Number of backers: 105

Project: Field Survey

Timothy Beaulieu and a team of conservation biologists aim to survey, document and map rare salamander species in Massachusetts, in a race against time to protect them.

“This salamander, which depends on mature upland forest and temporary ponds (i.e., vernal pools) to complete its life cycle, is threatened by habitat loss due to commercial and residential development, and by habitat alteration due to certain logging practices.”

“State biologists, researchers, and land managers needs biological data on the distribution and population abundance of this species in order to make informed conservation management decisions and ensure the future survival of the species within the state.”

Here’s a great photo gallery of their fieldwork: Images

7. The Bee Shed

Amount Raised: £120 (so far..)

Number of backers: 6

Project: Education

The Bee Shed really is an unusual project , and that’s why it caught my eye. Here’s Mick Parker’s pitch:

“I wish to renovate a dilapidated large shed that is near my apairy and convert it into a classroom. The idea being that once renovated I would use it to take school visits give them a talk on Honey bees and their importance to us and then give them a tour of the apiary (hands on) in full protective gear…I see this being used by the schools as a valuable learning resource.”

The best part is, he’s only asking for £500. Bargain!

8. Forest Recovery in Central Borneo

Amount Raised: $545

Number of backers: 19

Project: Conservation Fieldwork

Francis Brearley is hoping to raise funds to continue a long term field project in Borneo.

He plans to “measure the diameter of over one thousand trees that I have permanently marked and, in some cases, have monitored for nearly 15 years and will work out how fast they are growing. Using mathematical equations, combined with an analysis of the wood carbon content, I can then calculate the amount of carbon stored in these trees and how it is increasing over time.”

And why is he trying to crowd fund this project? “Currently, it is very difficult to obtain money for projects such as mine which aim at obtaining a long-term data series even though such data-sets which span nearly 15 years in my case are really valuable.”

9. Snakes, Birds and Disappearing Chile Peppers

Amount Raised: $728

Number of backers: 13

Project: Conservation Fieldwork

Haldre Rogers is aiming to unravel the mystery of disappearing chile peppers on the island of Guam. Here’s the story…

“Local residents of the island of Guam tell me that there are fewer wild pepper plants now than there used to be before the invasive Brown Treesnake was present or prevalent. But snakes don’t eat hot peppers, so how on earth would a snake cause a decline in the abundance of hot peppers? I hope to unravel this mystery in a field project this summer on the islands of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.”

10. Size of Wales

Not a crowd funding project in the modern sense, but an iconic example of what lots of people working together can achieve for conservation.

Amount Raised: £2,004,175

Number of backers: 1000s!

Project: Tropical Rainforest Conservation

Size of Wales is a unique project that aims to bring everyone in Wales (and around the world) together to help sustain an area of tropical forest the size of Wales as part of a national response to climate change.

‘An area the size of Wales’ is frequently used to measure the rate of forest destruction. Through Size of Wales, we aim to turn that negative use of the country’s size on its head, by encouraging the people of Wales to take positive action and help protect an area of rainforest equivalent to the size of our nation.

On 1st March 2013 Size of Wales supporters successfully reached the target of raising £2 million to help protect an area of rainforest equivalent to the size of Wales!

Read more on the Size of Wales website…

Any other great projects, or raising money for your own project? Let me know in the comments below..

My world revolves around conservation, and because of that I think I’m often guilty of forgetting the importance of humans in the equation. International development, in particular youth education is important in it’s own right; but undoubtedly it is also one of the strongest tools we have to drive conservation around the world.

I can reel off a long list of names when people ask me for advice on conservation volunteering, but when asked about community or development projects, I’m stumped. I know of a few organisations, but (at the risk of being controversial) they largely seem to me to be mostly-feel-good-adventures. ‘Voluntourism’ I think is the appropriate modern acronym.

So when I heard Emma talk about her experiences in Sierra Leone and the great work that she was supporting, I quickly asked if she would share her experiences here. Over to Emma…

Once an International Citizen, always an International Citizen!

International Citizen Service (ICS) is an exciting volunteer programme for 18-25 year olds, funded by the Government’s Department for International Development.  ICS gives young people the opportunity to work in partnership to fight poverty through sharing skills, building capacities and making positive changes to the lives of people in disadvantaged communities, whilst becoming ‘active citizens’ in the process.  With only three months to achieve all of this, there’s certainly not time to put your feet up!

Volunteers can be sent to one of 28 developing countries across the world, as chosen by their ‘sending’ organisation: VSO, Tearfund, Restless Development, Raleigh International, Progressio or International Service.  All volunteers are encouraged to fundraise at least £800 towards their sending charity, but apart from that, all costs (including flights, visas, insurance and even a personal allowance) are covered.  So what’s the catch?

Well the truth is, there isn’t one, or not one that I’ve discovered.  I volunteered in Sierra Leone, West Africa, last year and would recommend the experience to anyone.  One of the best things about ICS is its selection process; you don’t need any particular qualifications or previous experience, as long as you’re motivated, positive and committed to the values of the programme.

So here are my three reasons to volunteer with ICS, and why I think it stands out as a front runner in the field of overseas volunteering:

1) ICS is COLLABORATIVE…

People are at the heart of this programme, from the communities who host ICS volunteers to the personal development of the volunteers themselves.

Young people from the UK are matched with an equal number from the host country, so that each person has a ‘counterpart’.  This was a definite highlight for me, as we could achieve so much more with a team of nine from the UK and nine from Sierra Leone.  Counterpart pairs worked side by side in placements with grassroots NGOs, coming together for ‘Global Citizenship Days’, where we discussed issues affecting both the UK and Sierra Leone, such as teenage pregnancy, human rights and gender discrimination.  But more than that, we became close friends with our counterparts and learnt a huge amount from each other.

2) ICS is VARIED…

No two ICS projects are the same, even within one country!

I was placed in a local NGO with three other volunteers (1 from the UK and 2 from Sierra Leone), working with local youth groups on governance and gender initiatives, whereas other volunteers were tackling subjects such as HIV/AIDS, human rights and business skills training.  What’s more, ICS is what you make of it and as a team we were encouraged to use ‘Community Action Days’ to confront issues we cared about within the community, through raising awareness or creating change.  For us, this included a hand-washing day at the local hospital, a march on World AIDS day and a Peace Carnival in the run-up to the national elections.

3) ICS is CHALLENGING…

ICS may not be physically challenging but it does push you to your limits mentally and emotionally.  Three months can feel like much longer when you factor in adapting not only to a new job (albeit a temporary one) but a whole new way of life too.  Where possible, volunteers are placed with host families and this can present new challenges on a daily basis, from language and food to religious and cultural differences.  In just three months with my host family, we experienced illness, theft and violence, as well as celebrating good news and birthdays.  We went through so much together that actually it was saying goodbye that proved to be one of the hardest parts!

Finally, being an ‘international citizen’ does not stop at the end of the three month placement.  Volunteers are encouraged to undertake an ‘Action at Home’ project, putting the skills and knowledge gained overseas to use within their own communities.  Once an international citizen, always an international citizen!

To find out more or to get involved, go to the ICS website: www.ics-uk.org.uk, or find it on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ics?fref=ts.

To read more about Emma’s experiences, see her blog: www.adventuresinsierraleone.wordpress.com.

1. Crimean Mountains, Ukraine

We hadn’t intended to camp here, the plan was to make our way at least 10km further East to a river. We got lost We took the scenic route, and I still blame indecipherable Russian maps. Either way, I’m glad we gave up and decided to pitch our tent on the edge of a vast lavender field overlooking the mountains and the Black Sea, as it was by far one of the most beautiful places we came across. Aside from being woken at 3am due to some unidentified howls and rustling, it was perfect.

2. Haardangervidda Plateau, Norway

This was one of my favorite camping spots in central Norway, mainly because we ended up spending so much time there. A storm rolled in an kept us in our tent for much of the next day, so we played cards and took a well earned rest.

3. Peruvian Amazon

During our time in the Amazon, we attempted to paddle as far up the Rio Yanayaquillo as possible. It was enchanting; the river became narrower and the forest conspired to arch over our heads. Pink river dolphins made comical farting sounds as they came up for air.

This spot was the furthest we made it up the river, and is perhaps the single most remote place I have ever been in my life. It was also the first overcast morning of the trip and it began to gently rain (novel for a rainforest where it normally comes down in buckets). Sitting on the banks drinking coffee, miles and miles from anywhere will be something I never forget.

4. Madagascar

This is early morning in Southern Madagascar, Andringitra National Park. When I got out of my tent, about half an hour before this photograph was taken, I could see barely ten meters due to the mist. A feint orange glow began to appear on the horizon and over the course of an hour the tendrils of mist that engulfed us began to retreat. All we could do was to eat our porridge and watch it.

5. Scotland

A couple of years ago, a friend and I drove all the way to John O’Groats to reccy the route for the Scott Sledge Pull. Having reached the top after a long day, we very nearly pitched up in a camp site – until we heard that it was £15! Scotland is a very big and quite empty place, so we drove down the road and pitched up in a nice field. As dusk fell the North Sea twinkled with Orkney Island lighthouses.

6. Empty Quarter, Oman

We didn’t use tents for sleeping in the Empty Quarter, it was warm and there was just no need. If we had, then we would have also missed out on the heavens wheeling across the night sky and the occasional prowling camel. The desert is however very sandy, funnily enough, so they were indispensable as a place to keep food and equipment.

7. UmPhafa, South Africa

This image looks a bit fake, or at least sort-of-photoshopped. Well, it isn’t, this lone accacia sits right at the top of UmPhafa reserve in South Africa. We wild camped out under it one night, sang songs and watched lightening striking the Drakensberg Mountains in the distance.

8. Norway

This was the view from my first solo bivy. It was odd to be completely alone and I’d like to say I thoroughly manned up, but in fact, two crows gave me the fright of my life!

9. Near Andasibe, Madagascar

Maybe my favorite spot in the whole world, deep in the rainforest in Madagascar. As camp sites go, it certainly wasn’t the most user friendly. The tarpaulins tended to accumulate rain water rather than providing shelter, and so intermittently they would collapse, soaking whichever unfortunate soul happened to be passing by. The soil quickly turned to orange mud, the long-drop was at the top of a precarious hill and the smoke from the campfire hung in the still air making our eyes water.

But despite all that, it was the first place I ever wild camped and I wouldn’t change a single thing about it.

And the worst?

10. England

Camping near a stream on Dartmoor seemed like a great idea at the time… until torrential rain caused flooding in the night and gale force winds almost blew us away. Still, breaking camp, legging it to the car and having the heaters roaring all the way to London made it thoroughly worth it!

Where are your favorite wild camping spots?

"Polar exploration is at once the cleanest and most isolated way of having a bad time which has been devised." – Apsley Cherry-Garrard. Opening sentence of the Introduction to The Worst Journey in the World.

Why go on an Expedition

Here’s some common reasons that people choose get involved with expeditions.

1. For the sense for adventure, a break from routine, a desire to travel or to broaden one’s horizons.

2. The wish to develop oneself, and one’s skills such as teamwork and organisation.

3. A wish to do something physically or mentally challenging.

4. The wish to contribute to a worthwhile exploration, humanitarian or conservation project, to further existing knowledge.

Why people don’t go on Expeditions

1. They assume that they don’t have the time/money/knowledge needed.

2. They want to go on an expedition, but never quite manage to commit. To take the plunge. To start.

3. They think expeditions are just about being waist deep in mud, sweating, or freezing, and hungry. They think expeditions are being Bear Grylls.

4. Worst of all: They think it’s all been done before. That there’s nothing left to explore.

How to find Expedition Providers

Not sure where to even start? Here are some useful lists…

Expedition Providers Association – A useful association of organisations providing expeditions to young adults under 25, and in full time education.

Young Explorers Trust – Another highly reputable collective of approved expedition providers.

The Royal Geographical Society – The home of expeditions has an excellent directory of over 200 organisations, definitely something for everyone. They also do a great bulletin of vacancies and opportunities, and can usually offer helpful advice.

Explorers Connect – A great network of like-minded individuals, they have regular meetups too. Very welcoming to newcomers, and the regular newsletter normally reports on a staggering number of upcoming expeditions.

I also have a short list of particularly good organisations, or ones that I have been personally involved with.

..and how to choose between them

There are more and more organisations offering expeditions every year, and so the choice can be confusing. Here’s two questions you should ask yourself to help narrow down the choice.

Where do you want to go?

You might have a life long desire to see the Arctic or Antarctic for example, in which case you can rapidly narrow down the list of appropriate organisations. You might want to go and base yourself in a rainforest or African reserve, or instead undertake an extended journey and there’s people out there can help with all of these things.

What do you want to do?

Is it adventurous travel? Horse riding through the pampas grass, floating down the Amazon or taking a short walk in the mountains? Perhaps you want to feel you’re making a difference or a contribution to conservation or communities? Perhaps you’re not sure, in which case browsing through the many opportunities available might be your best bet.

Some things to keep in mind..

“Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.” – Minor MyersIt’s worth keeping in mind that not all organisations were made equal. Quite simply, some are better than others, and choosing between them can be difficult, especially if you’re getting involved for the first time. None of this should put you off though!

Is the organisation a charity, foundation or company? Where does your money go? Do they support local people and projects?

If they work in conservation, where does the data go? Do they have a good track record? And who is leading the expedition?

Unfortunately a lot of newer organisations see expeditions as an opportunity to make money. There’s nothing wrong with that, but the priority should be a worthwhile experience for those taking part and the host country.

Lastly, you might like to just go it alone. Remember; it doesn’t have to be a world first, a year long epic or don’t-tell-your-mum dangerous to be worth doing.

Money, Money, Money…

Money is probably the biggest single factor that puts people off expeditions.

Firstly, the life time of memories (and gnarly stories you can tell your mates down the pub) more than balance the cost. In fact, if you compare it to the cost of a conventional holiday or all the other outgoings in your life, they start to look more and more like a bargain. So my first piece of advice would be to start saving!

Secondly, having said that – and to completely contradict myself – there’s an amazing amount of people out there than want to give you money to do something worth while. If you don’t believe me, then head over here.

It’s worth saying that you can’t expect money for nothing. In many cases, sponsors will ask for a report or a short talk in return for funding. They might pay for equipment or  specific expenses. There often has to be a strong sense of purpose, or a nice story behind the project too.

In my experience, it is also looked upon very favorably if you have contributed a fair amount towards the expedition yourself which shows you are committed and not just out for a free ride (see above!).

A Single Piece of Advice…

If I could offer a single piece of advice to anyone thinking of embarking on their own expedition, it would be this: I’ve never met a single person who regretted taking the plunge and going on their first expedition.

They might of had a rough time, but the worst parts are always the fondest memories in retrospect. They might decide that expeditions are not for them, but they are mightily glad they gave it a go. But by far the most likely outcome, is the urge to start planning the next one.

There’s a few more pretty pictures here.

Useful Articles..

There’s lots of people with far more experience than myself that have written about getting involved with expeditions. Here are some of the highlights.

How to Get Started in Expeditions – Al Humphreys

The Next Challenge - Tons of resources for undertaking a big challenge by Tim Moss

Plan your own expedition – Useful resources from the Royal Geographical Society

and a few more..

With my scientist head on it has to be the jungle, just for the sheer variety of life. It’s also the toughest environment I’ve visited (I sweat, a lot). On the other hand, the emptiness of the oceans or deserts are a rare and valuable reminder of quite how small and insignificant we are individually.

First travel experience?

It was an expedition to Madagascar that introduced me to traveling. I saw how precious the rainforests are and the kindness and generosity of the Malagasy people. Unfortunately, things don’t seem to be working out very well over there. It seemed to me that if I went away, studied, traveled and learned about conservation successes in other parts of the world, then I might be able to go back to Madagascar and do something useful to help.

Favourite journey?

It’s odd how favorite journeys aren’t necessarily fun at the time. When I was 18 I bravely stupidly signed up to sail across the Atlantic on a racing yacht – I’d never sailed before, but the idea sounded romantic. Standing on the bow, 1000 miles from land, with vivid green bioluminescent algae churning in our wake will be a memory I treasure forever.

Top 5 places worldwide?

Madagascar is a staggeringly beautiful and fragile country. Sarajevo in Bosnia, was totally not what we expected and by far one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Kosovo has some of the best cake in the world. The Amazon is just one of those places you have the see (and do your bit to save). The UK – because there really is no place like home.

Special place to stay?

In a tent almost anywhere or on a couch if you get the chance.

3 items you always pack?

A moleskin diary, crag-hopper trousers, duct tape.

Passport stamp you’re proudest of?

Belarus, just because it took three trips to the embassy to get it.

Passport stamp most like to have?

I would very much like to visit Saudi Arabia or Iran.

Guilty travel pleasure?

Street food. Especially the crazily bright fruit juices in Peru, the babushkas that sells potato dumplings in Kiev and langose in Prague. Overall though, you can’t beat the your first ice cream after emerging from a month in the rainforest.

Window or aisle?

Window, because it’s a great lazy way of taking pictures.

Who is your ideal traveling companion?

Can I go on an expedition with George Schaller?

Where do you NOT want to go?

Anywhere with a huge crowded beach and menu’s with pictures.

Who/what inspired you to travel? Any travel heroes?

I have Captain Scott and George Murray Levick to thank for the opportunity to travel, and their actions undoubtedly make them hero’s. It was Levick who returned to the UK after that ill fated expedition and went on to found the British Exploring Society. More than 80 years later, they are still going strong!

What do you listen to on the road? Any song take you back to a particular time or place?

I don’t generally have much music with me, I’m happy just to listen to whatever other people have playing. Saying that, Zero 7 reminds me of trying to drive up an old volcano on the Azones in a little corsa with some wonderful friends.

What do you read?

I generally read true stories, almost exclusively. Fiction is great, but so many people have done such brilliant things, it’ll take me a life time to hear about them all. Eric Newby is a particular favorite for his honesty and wit, although I also enjoy books like The Bottom Billion and The Selfish Gene. (Here’s my sort of top 10)

Is there a person you met while travelling who reaffirmed your faith in humanity? Anyone who made you lose it?

When traveling though Eastern Europe we were invited into so many wonderful peoples homes, who wanted nothing in return, but to chat.

What’s the most impressive / useful phrase you know in a foreign language?

My language skills are pitiful. Insha’Allah translating to God Willing, is by far the most useful, and only, thing I can say in Arabic.

What is your worst habit as a traveller?

When in the middle of nowhere, on dehydrated rations, I invariably fantasize over every infinitesimal detail of a full English breakfast and cold beer; regaling its qualities in exquisite detail to my companions. Can’t help it. (Sometimes Piranha has to do..)

Snowbound in a tent in Antarctica, how would you entertain your companions?

With this brain teaser… There’s just four countries in the world with only one single vowel (and you can only use that vowel once). What are they?

When and where in your travels have you been happiest?

For me I think every journey has it’s highs and lows. Looking back, I can think of many, many moments of bliss in all sorts of situations. Waking up to the whale-like call of Indri lemurs, sharing stories around numerous camp fires, fresh coffee and pink river dolphins on the rio Yanayaquillo. The best though, has to be the (re)discovery of 33 ‘lost’ bars of chocolate from amongst kit bags whilst on expedition – perhaps the only time in my life where I have actually been speechless.

What smell most says ‘travel’ to you?

The camp fire smell!

Given a choice, which era would you travel in?

At least as far back as the 18th or 19th century. When I travel now, as a biologist, in the back of my mind is the feeling of responsibility to protect out disappearing wild places. I would love to travel with that irresponsibly liberating sense of a limitless world, undiscovered and unexplored.

If you could combine three cities to make your perfect metropolis, what would they be?

London for history, Istanbul for the melting pot of cultures and Iquitos for the rainforest on your doorstep. That would be a pretty crazy place.

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Mountains and Molehills

6 Wild Places on my Wishlist

Two things I carried on my last expediton

Share:

Not only have I learned a huge amount about conservation; but there’s been slightly cringe worthy tips on removing bot flies, battling mosquitoes, packing kit and the day to day struggle to live and work some of the worlds most challenging places.

Overall though, there is an overwhelmingly positive message, and that is what I want to share. So please do browse some of the articles and let me know your favourites!

Fieldwork Interview: The Little Dodo of Samoa

Fieldwork Interview: The Crees Foundation

Fieldwork: Coral Reefs of Wakatobi

Fieldwork: Pygmy Sloths of Panama

Fieldwork: Moths in the Rainforest Canopy

Fieldwork: Sea Turtle Conservation on Remote Pacific Atolls

Fieldwork: Habitat Restoration in Eastern Anatolia

Fieldwork: Owls of the Netherlands

Fieldwork: Rainforest Communities

Fieldwork: The Red Sea Dolphin Project

Fieldwork: The Sooty Falcons of Oman

Fieldwork: Dragonflies of the Amazon Rainforest

Fieldwork: Citizen Science and Rowing an Ocean

Wanted: Scientists in the Field

Fieldwork: Atlantic Rainforest Capuchins

Fieldwork: Darwin’s Frogs in Chile

Fieldwork: Fiji’s Reefs

Fieldwork: The Last Survivors

Fieldwork: The Golden cat of Gabon

Fieldwork: Science in the Arctic

Do you work in the field? Have you undertaken a conservation expedition? Would you like to share your experiences in an interview like the ones above? Get in touch!

Please help share these articles to support outstanding conservation projects:

Choosing a dissertation topic:

An excellent rule of thumb is quite simply what you find most interesting.

If you have the opportunity to read through a list of dissertation topics, then start by shortlisting a selection that stand out. Try and narrow it down to three or four, then read around those topic to develop your knowledge.

If you have to come up with an idea yourself, then a good way to generate ideas is to read recent publications from researchers in your department. This will not only show which areas are most topical, but potential supervisors will likely be more receptive to ideas that fit within their current research themes.

The right supervisor is as important as the right project:

Pay as much attention to the supervisor as to the topic. Some recycle topics year on year, and so in reality the project might not be that interesting or engaging. Thankfully, the majority are keen to give undergraduates a real taste of scientific investigation.

You should be familiar with many of the staff in your department by the time you prepare for a dissertation. Which do you find most engaging?  Are they likely to have time to guide you, or are they always away (this can be both good or bad) at conferences or fieldwork? Arrange a meeting to talk about the project, but go prepared with questions from your background reading – don’t waste their time. If you leave enthused, then that’s a great sign the project is for you.

Planning a project:

There’s whole books written on this topic, and you will undoubtedly get guidance from your university. So instead, here are a few mistakes that lots and lots of people have made, myself included (over and over again, myself included).

• Getting carried away with reading, reading, reading, and never actually starting.
• Collecting data and assuming that you’ll work out what to do with it later.
• Being afraid of proper maths/stats.
• Finishing your project and wishing you collected more data.
• Not making a note of your references (then spending hours looking for them).

The balance between ambition and originality:

The easiest way to get a good grade, is to be original. At the same time, it’s difficult to come up with original research within the scope of an undergraduate dissertation. Here’s some ideas how you might be able to do that.

• Read review articles. what are their conclusions? Where do they feel future research should be?
• Can you take some old research and revisit it with new technology or software (this worked for me).
• Can you translate your supervisors interest to a different species or habitat
• Can you mine data published as a by product of other research, looking for trends or patterns.
• Talk to your supervisor!

How to get published as an undergraduate:

After putting in all that hard work to produce a dissertation, why not have a shot at publishing it. If you’ve managed to tick the originality box and produce a good amount of data then you’re in with a good chance. You definitely don’t have to have discovered a new cure or species. Published research is mostly made up of the small steps of progress.

On the downside, submitting to journals often means you will need to rewrite to different criteria. For example, journals often have tighter word limits, request figures to different specifications or ask that it be formatted in a different manner. Journals can also take a very long time.

…Then there’s the small matter of reviewers, who often come back with yet more changes. But when you get there, it’s worth it.

Make the most of your vacations:

The other great way to get a head start in research is to apply for an internship or lab experience. This can be looked upon very highly when applying for Masters or PhD, and can of course provide an opportunity to get your name on a publication.

The Society of Biology and New Scientist both have good lists of opportunities. Or you could try and get involved through one of these…

Dragonfly hunting in Oman

Read more about the Oman Expedition…

A Little Inspiration:

Without a doubt the best example (that I’ve heard about so far..) of undergraduate research making a real contribution to conservation science was when three guys set off from Evergreen State College, Washington, to survey a remote island off Panama. The guys were looking for the Pygmy three-toed sloth, a species only identified a few years previously. They got a cracking paper published from the work and raised the profile of this severely threatened species. Just goes to show quite what you can manage if you put your mind to it.

Read more about the Pygmy sloth project here.

Some Useful Links:

Bioscience Horizons: a free online journal publishing the best undergraduate bioscience research from the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Journal of Maps: Another useful undergraduate and early career journal for those interested in geography and distributions.

Operation Wallacea: Undergraduate Research Assistants (example)

Undergraduate Dissertation Writing Tips: Useful tips from Oxbridge Essays

Conservation bytes: Useful common sense for biologists

Any suggestions?

Feel free to let me know in the comments below..