Rebecca has been working at FFI since September 2007. Though she studied conservation in her BA and MSc, she decided that the life in the jungle just wasn't for her. Having grown up in New York City, she has experienced more pigeons and squirrels than parrots and spider monkeys. So she decided to write about the impact that FFI's projects have on the ground.
Her current role as Communications Officer (Business & Biodiversity) has allowed her to focus her energy towards FFI's innovative Business & Biodiversity Programme. Rebecca helps to get the message out about FFI's strategic corporate partnerships and what they have helped to achieve for global biodiversity.
Strengthening the skills of conservationists around the world is critical if we are to make sure conservation lasts in the long term.
FFI’s Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) plays a crucial role in doing just that.
The CLP has had a busy few months, holding three workshops to train field conservationists in key skills sets.
The first, held in Kenya, was on Biostatistics and was attended by several FFI partners, including the East African Wildlife Society and the Pemba Flying Fox Conservation Project. The second was on Proposal Writing and held in Indonesia – also attended by FFI staff from the Kerinci tiger programme.
The most recent, in Bangalore, India, was on Scientific Publication Writing for Conservation and led by FFI’s own Martin Fisher, the Editor of Oryx—The International Journal of Conservation. Attendees learned how to write an academic paper and how to submit it to a journal.
“CLP’s approach to building the capacity of future conservation leaders includes providing on-going support to alumni, enabling them to develop as credible conservation professionals,” said Stuart Paterson, CLP Programme Coordinator at FFI.
“That’s why, in addition to the annual international training course which is attended by one participant from each CLP award-winning team, we offer four local training courses throughout the year.
“We run the Scientific Publication Writing Course because it is very important that field researchers share their findings with the global conservation community through the publication of their work in journals like Oryx.”
Suresh Jones, funded by CLP for his project to conserver the four-horned antelope in south India.
About the Conservation Leadership Programme The CLP is run jointly by FFI, BirdLife International, Conservation International, the Wildlife Conservation Society and BP. It works to promote the development of future biodiversity conservation leaders by providing a range of awards, training and mentoring support via an active international network of practitioners.
Learn more on the CLP website.