Opwall's Field Notes

Dr. Nick Askew is the Founder and Director of Conservation Careers, one of the biggest advice centres and job boards for conservationists in the world. Nick started his career as an ornithologist and his PhD and dissertation focused on the behavioural ecology of barn owls. He then went on to work in a number of conservation fieldwork and communications roles before founding Conservation Careers. Since launch, Conservation Careers has provided advice to 630 000 conservationists in 178 countries to help them find work and make an impact for the planet. In this episode, we discuss how the conservation field has changed since he started Conservation Careers, what conservation employers and employees should understand about each other, and what skills are in high demand in the conservation industry today. If you are thinking about starting a career in conservation at any stage of your life, this episode is for you.

Conservation Careers website: https://www.conservation-careers.com/

Conservation Careers podcast: https://www.conservation-careers.com/podcast/

Karen Rodriguez is Vice President of Program Operations at Kiss the Ground. Originally from Guatemala, Karen grew up in California and followed a deep love of food into the restaurant industry. Through this work, she learned an incredible amount from chefs, farmers, and other people connected to our food systems, which led her to join the Kiss the Ground team. Karen sees connection with nature and the soil as a healing force that can generate healthy ecosystems and communities. She is whole-heartedly aligned with Kiss the Ground's mission of teaching and providing the tools for regenerating soil at the local level, as well as working to shift policy to improve outcomes for food production in the US and abroad. In this episode, we discuss why Karen sees each regenerative agriculture project as an experiment, how to support regenerative practices in your own community, and how to look for meaningful work that you love. 

Katie Bell leads Opwall's fundraising team and manages our site in Borneo. She originally joined Opwall after becoming passionate about marine science, and achieving a bachelor's degree in marine environmental science and a master's degree in coastal resource management. Katie is also Opwall's Environmental Officer working to lower the environmental impact of our daily operations, from offsetting travel to eliminating plastic waste. We discuss how anyone can lower their environmental impact during the holiday season while still enjoying the festivities. We also discuss tips for low-waste gift giving and holiday meals, and how to address controversial topics like anthropogenic climate change with friends and family in a sensitive way. As you prepare for this holiday season, take a moment to reflect on small ways you as an individual can make a difference for the environment. Katie explains how even a small change can make a positive impact.

Ellie Field is Opwall's Rewilding Lead and International Sales Manager. She spent much of her time during the Covid-19 pandemic learning about efforts to improve agriculture in the UK and rejuvenate biodiversity. Ellie first joined Opwall as a volunteer in South Africa, then went on to complete a master's in biodiversity and conservation with African ecology before joining us full-time to run our Madagascar site in 2017. In this episode, we discuss why nature is so depleted in the UK, what can be done to help biodiversity without threatening food security, and how individuals can support a shift towards regenerative agriculture.

Manuel Sanchez is an Ecuadorian ornithologist and science communicator who joined our expedition in Ecuador this year to run the bird surveys. Manuel grew up in Southern Ecuador and fell in love with the hundreds of bird species he found in the forests around his home. He went on to study tourism, but with a strong focus on ecology, and then science communication in Edinburgh, Scotland before making his way back home. Manuel's biggest passion is using rapid biodiversity assessments to protect threatened ecosystems across Ecuador and northern South America by engaging local people and politicians to move projects forward. Manuel has been all over, from contested territory in Colombia to endangered ecosystems in Turkey, to register and protect birds. As you'll hear, he strongly believes that in conservation biology, getting data is only have the work. To make an impact, you have to know how to get politicians and local people on your side. In this episode, we discuss how Manuel uses soundscapes to rapidly assess an area, and his love for engaging local communities in his work. 

Gara Trujillo ran Opwall's Galapagos site in 2019. She recently completed an Erasmus Master's program in Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management while traveling across Greece, Hungary, and Sweden. As an ecologist, Gara has worked in the Amazon rainforest in Peru, in coastal Greece, and in the Galapagos Islands with Opwall. This episode was recorded in early 2021 when she was still completing her graduate program. Gara is now interviewing at WWF Sweden. In this joint episode you will also hear Gara interview Sophia Wood about our site in the Ecuadorian Amazon and how it is evolved since she started managing the project in 2018. Sophia had her start with Operation Wallacea in 2017 while helping set up the Fiji project fresh out of university. After a brief stint in venture capital and start-ups in Latin America, she dove into conservation full-time with Opwall in 2019 to run Friends of Wallacea, Opwall's tourism arm, and to continue to develop conservation projects alongside indigenous communities across the region. In this episode, we cover what life is really like in the Amazonian rainforest, how travelers can leave a positive impact when they travel, and how scientific research fits into local tourism and conservation efforts.

Joe England is a British ornithologist who has worked with Opwall in Fiji since 2017 when he helped set up the first research sites on the Natewa Peninsula. Joe is deeply passionate about birds, biodiversity, and the natural world, which shines through in his work and his words. He is eager to return to Fiji after the global lockdown to continue his research on the behaviour of the rare, microendemic Natewa Silktail, a tiny bird that lives only on this peninsula. Through his work with Opwall and other research organizations, Joe has led and participated in biodiversity surveys all over the world, including in Peru, Australia, Borneo, and now Romania. In this episode we discuss the origins of Joe's respect and love for nature (birds in particular), what makes Fiji such a special and sometimes challenging place to work, and how to live a life committed to protecting biodiversity every day.

In this episode we cover:

#1. The Biological value of the Natewa Peninsula

Authors: Operation Wallacea

Journal: Operation Wallacea Report

Year: 2019

Full Paper: https://cdn.yello.link/opwall/files/2020/01/The-Biological-value-of-the-Natewa-Peninsula-V2.pdf

#2. Nesting behaviour of Natewa Silktail, Lamprolia klinesmithi

Authors: Joe England

Journal: Bulletin of the British Ornithological Club

Year: 2019

Full Paper: https://bioone.org/journals/bulletin-of-the-british-ornithologists-club/volume-139/issue-3/bboc.v139i3.2019.a9/Nesting-behaviour-of-Natewa-Silktail-Lamprolia-klinesmithi/10.25226/bboc.v139i3.2019.a9.full

Sara Carlson runs Ocean Ventures, a dive and research centre on Natewa Bay in Fiji that works alongside Opwall for the marine research portion of our expeditions. Before moving to Fiji, Sara worked with Opwall for several years running the US office and projects in Mexico, Indonesia, Honduras, and Greece. She became passionate about the ocean at a young age and has been diving avidly since 2009. Sara moved to Fiji nearly 5 years ago and has been living on the Natewa Peninsula ever since. Sara and her partner Matthew are passionate about supporting marine conservation by working alongside local communities on the island and have been teaching courses, training divers, and surveying local coastlines throughout the past year. In this episode, we discuss life on a South Pacific island, what makes Fiji's marine life so special, and the future of conservation on these remote islands.

Cristi Gherghiceanu is the executive president of Fundatia ADEPT, a Romanian non-profit dedicated to protecting Transylvanian biodiversity and traditional agriculture through innovation and education. ADEPT partnered with Opwall to set up our projects in Transylvania, and have deepened the relationship by working with Friends of Wallacea to set up the Angofa Wildlife Centre in a house they restored to fund conservation in Romania year-round. Cristi himself studied IT, economics, and accounting before becoming passionate about rural development. Growing up in Transylvania, he came to understand the local heritage that makes this region so special and ecologically important, and was moved to use his skills to oversee the daily operates of Fundatia ADEPT to provide value to those conserving traditional lifestyles in Transylvania. In this episode, we discuss why ADEPT was created to protect Transylvania, how to conserve natural and cultural heritage, and what the world can learn from this very special place.

Originally from Sighisoara, Madalina Marian is a proud advocate of Transylvanian heritage, nature, and culture. She grew up foraging in the hilltop forests, keeping an eye out for bears and chasing butterflies in Transylvania's wildflower meadows, which inspired her passion for biology. She went on to study biology in university and during that time she also worked three summers with Opwall teams as a guide, translator, and survey leader, becoming familiar with the unique ecology of her local area. Upon graduating, Madalina knew she wanted to show visitors the wildlife Transylvania had to offer and founded Angofa Wildlife Tours in partnership with Friends of Wallacea, Opwall's tourism arm. Based at the beautifully restored Angofa Wildlife Centre, Madalina leads tours to view bears, birds, and other wildlife, as well as hosting dinners and lectures that support conservation efforts in Transylvania. In this episode, we discuss what makes Transylvania so special, and why she thinks people should come visit and learn from Romanian conservation to protect wildlife in harmony with human livelihoods.

Toby Farman is Opwall's Systems Manager and the Country Manager for our Romania expeditions. Toby originally studied biotechnology, but an Opwall trip in 2007 sparked his passion for travel. After graduating, Toby traveled the world for 2 years with nothing more than a backpack. Rather than settle down upon his return, Toby began working for Opwall and went on to manage projects in Mozambique, South Africa, and now Transylvania. In this episode, we discuss what makes Transylvania so special for wildlife, how bears, hay meadows, and traditional agriculture fit together within the mosaic of hills and valleys that define the Transylvanian region, and what the rest of the world can learn from this special place.

Dr. Raquel Thomas is the Director of Resource Management & Training at the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development. Raquel got her PhD in tropical forest ecology in London, where she studied the role of rodents in seed dispersal in neotropical forests. Raquel has always had a passion for forests and tree composition, which led her to continue research on the diverse plant communities of the Guiana Shield region. In 2005, Raquel started her position as the Director of Resource Management & Training at Iwokrama and has led the organization ever since, ensuring that the forest remains protected while also providing income for local communities. In this episode, we discuss how sustainable forest management works, why conservation is so much more than just science, and how business can partner with indigenous communities to protect biodiversity.

Scott Sveiven is the Director of Opwall's US office and the Country Manager for our Guyana expeditions. Originally from Minnesota, Scott started travelling the world and exploring his passion for wildlife biology from an early age. He went on to become a biologist, studying dual master's degrees in conservation biology and environmental policy, then teaching at a forestry school in New York state until he found his way to Opwall. Over the past decade, Scott has built and shaped Opwall's research efforts in Guyana, a country that still retains 87% of its forest cover. Since Opwall has many camps in Guyana, we will focus on one site in particular. The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, which works with indigenous communities to protect the forest through several different mechanisms. In this episode, we discuss how Scott became passionate about conservation and forestry, challenges of working in the field at one of our remotest sites, and what we've learned in 10 years of running research in Guyana. 

Sophia introduces Opwall's Field Notes and what to expect from this podcast.

Mo Johnson has run Opwall's sales offices in SE Asia, Australia, and China since 2013, and runs our marine research site on Buton Island in Indonesia. Mo lives full time in Indonesia where Opwall has been running a reforestation project since the beginning of the pandemic. In this special episode, Mo updates us on the progress of the reforestation project, what the current situation is on the ground in Indonesia, and how anyone can help the conservation cause from home by making tiny changes in their daily lives.

Dr. Darren O'Connell is a molecular ecologist from Ireland focused on speciation. Darren completed his PhD with Opwall in Sulawesi and played a critical role in identifying the Wangi-wangi White-eye, an Indonesian bird new to science. Today, Darren is studying honey bee colonies in Ireland to understand how climate change and other stressors affect these populations. In this episode, we cover how Darren ended up studying island biogeography and speciation, what these studies tell us about conservation efforts, and the long and challenging process of describing a new species.

Panji Gusti Akbar is an ornithologist that worked with Opwall at our Sulawesi field site in Indonesia from 2017-2019. Panji became passionate about birds when he moved from the bustling capital city of Jakarta to the smaller town of Yogyakarta where he had much more access to nature. He went on to study biology, becoming a skilled field researcher who has worked with academics from all over the world to identify and protect rare species of birds across Indonesia. Today, he works as a travel writer and bird guide, and is adamant tourism can help protect some of the world's most unique species. In this episode, we discuss how Panji helped advance Opwall's research in Sulawesi, his hopes for the future of conservation in Indonesia, and how to stay safe as a wildlife researcher.

Alex Tozer is the Director of Operations for Operation Wallacea. Before joining Opwall, Alex studied psychology, not expecting to be an expedition leader. He had his start with Opwall as a volunteer in Honduras in 2003. Today, Alex is a licensed bird ringer, wildlife photographer, EFR instructor, and most importantly the person who makes sure all the Opwall expeditions run smoothly. He has played a critical role in expanding Opwall's focus during the pandemic to include many new projects, including providing income to local partners through reforestation and carbon credit initiatives around the world. In this special episode, we discuss Opwall's reforestation efforts in Sulawesi, how carbon credits work, and how planting trees can support people, animals, and the planet.

Wallacea Trust website - https://wallaceatrust.org/

Dr. Tim Coles is the founder and CEO of Operation Wallacea. Tim comes from a long career in connecting conservation and business to create sustainable long-term solutions for the industry. Prior to founding Opwall, Tim was a fisheries scientist with over 13 years’ experience in the UK water industry and river management. In 1990, he went on to found the IEMA (the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment) and EARA (the Environmental Auditors Registration Association), both of which are still in existence and have thousands of members in nearly 90 countries around the world. The IEMA is now a leading international membership-based organisation dedicated to the promotion of sustainable development.

Of course, what Tim is best known for in our circles is as the founder of Opwall, which he started in 1995 with the first expedition to Indonesia. Tim also went on to found the Wallacea Trust (https://wallaceatrust.org/) in 1998 to support conservation projects stemming from Opwall’s yearly research expeditions. Opwall now operates in 13 countries, bringing over 3000 students into the field every year alongside field researchers and academics, which has resulted in more than 550 scientific publications. Yet in 2020, for the first time in 25 years, Opwall did not open a single field site. The culprit? The Covid-19 pandemic. In this special episode, we discuss how Opwall has been impacted by the ban on international travel, what this means for our industry and international conservation in general, and how Opwall has adapted to these unexpected and challenging circumstances.

Gerardo is the owner and manager of Akumal Dive Center, the oldest dive shop in Akumal Bay, and Opwall's partner for marine research in Mexico. Gerardo ended up in the field of conservation somewhat by accident. He studied business and after graduating he began to work in the dive shop, which has been in his family since 1975. Gerardo quickly realized that the health of the bay would be essential for the long-term health of his business. Since then, he has worked with many scientists and conservationists, and become a strong voice for conservation through sustainable business. In this episode, we discuss how Gerardo sees the role of business investing in conservation, his team's restoration of Akumal Bay, and how to bridge the gap between science and business to build successful conservation projects.

Dr. Kathy Slater is Opwall's Research Manager and the Senior Scientist for our site in Mexico. She oversees the terrestrial research done in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve near Guatemala and the marine research done in Akumal Bay. Kathy's personal research focus is primatology and she got her start in Mexico researching spider monkeys for her PhD. She joined her first Opwall expedition to Indonesia in 2000, then went on to run terrestrial research in Cusuco National Park, Honduras before eventually setting up the Mexico project in 2012. Kathy currently advises a number of PhD students researching jaguars and Morelete's crocodiles in the reserve. In this episode, we discuss Kathy's decision to become a field researcher, what is happening to biodiversity in Mexico, and how data can be used to produce real conservation outcomes.

Dr. Tom Martin is Opwall’s Terrestrial Research & Operations Manager, and the senior scientist for one of Opwall’s oldest and largest projects in Cusuco National Park, Honduras. In this episode, we discuss life in the cloud forests of Honduras, how Tom became inspired to become a biologist, and the implications of climate change on biodiversity that the Honduras team have found in research over 15 years.