We are a group of scientists, conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts, brought together by our love for the outdoors and the desire to make our world a better place for both people and nature.
Andrew Stokes-Rees
Founder/ Expedition Leader
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Cindy Cosset
Coordinator
I am a tropical ecology and conservation biologist with a keen interest in putting science into practice. My research interests include topics relating to sustainable natural resource use, forest landscape restoration, improving conservation effectiveness and informing policy using ecological evidence. My work has taken me to Borneo, Colombia and Oman, working on conservation related issues, from assessing land-use impacts to restoring forests and protecting biodiversity. Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Fellow, at the University of Florida (USA), working on guiding reforestation initiatives in the tropics.
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Thomas Starnes
GIS Expert
A passionate and dedicated conservationist, I started out my career mapping herbarium specimens at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in order to map species richness patterns and spatial conservation priorities on the island of New Guinea. This work led to a succession of spatial analysis positions with different organisations including the RSPB. I now lead IUCN’s work on Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), developing, managing and implementing projects in several countries, including the establishment of KBA National Coordination Groups in Africa and the Middle East. My strengths include developing partnerships, understanding multiple perspectives and identifying opportunities for collaboration.
Rebecca Senior
Lead Scientist
I am a conservation scientist with a passion for using big data and new technologies to understand the drivers of biodiversity loss, and to identify potential solutions to mitigate that loss. I am particularly interested in improving our understanding of the likely impacts of climate change, and how this might interact with the ways that people manage land. Much of my fieldwork has been in tropical rainforests, but I’ve also spent time in the hot and dry deserts of Oman and the cold and wet of the UK. I started to love the unique suffering of outdoor adventure (“Type 2 fun”) growing up hiking and running in the South Pennine hills of England. I relish any opportunity to combine my love of adventure with nature conservation.
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James Borrell
Lead Scientist
I am a Research Leader at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, focusing on ecological modelling, food security and conservation. I’m particularly interested in understanding what drives the fine and broad scale distributions of plants. I bring expertise in mapping, data collection and analysis.
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Elliot Convery Fisher
Social Science Lead & Ethical Conservation Advisor
I am a tropical socio-ecologist and conservation scientist who works in-partnership with conservation organisations to produce impactful research. My research interests include local livelihood strategies, local ecological knowledge, savannah ecology and conservation science. I’ve worked across Africa, Latin America and the Middle East to tackle conservation problems such as uncontrolled wildlife fires in Madagascar, the ecology of rare, understudied plants in Oman and identifying pioneer species in tropical forest restoration in Costa Rica. Currently, I am a PhD researcher at the University of Edinburgh and Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh (UK).
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Benedetta Gori
Traditional Knowledge & Capacity Building Advisor
I am an ethnobotanist and a conservationist, and my work centres on the exploration of useful plants and the convergence of biological and cultural diversities, recognising the profound link between the two. With a strong interest in the conservation of neglected and underutilized plant species, my deep commitment lies in safeguarding not only the botanical heritage but also the invaluable traditional ecological knowledge surrounding these plants, ensuring the harmonious coexistence of communities and nature. Currently pursuing my PhD between the University of Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy) and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (London, UK), I am passionately studying Mediterranean wild edible plants and crop wild relatives, their ecology and socio-cultural significance.
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Ciara Whittaker
Conservation Storyteller & Science Communication
Blending Environmental Biology, Physics and my interest for the plant world, I’ve woven a unique path. Botanic gardens sparked my journey, while ethnobotany connected hard science with human impact. Currently, I champion sustainable gastronomy and regenerative agriculture at an NGO. Teaching natural sciences fuels my passion for science communication, where creative thinking and problem solving meet sustainable action. I craft science illustrations to convey vital messages, infusing creativity into sustainability. Protection stems from understanding, and my goal is to ignite that understanding through compelling storytelling.
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Conservation Field Studies International 