Biography
I am interested in understanding how we can reconcile biodiversity conservation and the needs of human populations across different spatial and temporal scales. I predominantly explore this issue through a human-wildlife conflict lens in Africa to inform landscape conservation and identify pathways through which we can transition from conflict to coexistence.
I hold an MSc in Conservation from University College London and a BA in Geography from the University of Exeter. During my master's, I was the recipient of a Royal Geographical Society grant and conducted fieldwork in the Democratic Republic of Congo's peatland forests, exploring the responses of bird communities to local livelihood activities, such as artisanal logging. I also have experience implementing camera trap surveys, using radiotelemetry and supporting species conservation projects, particularly for cheetah, rhino and ground pangolin, in South Africa.
Prior to starting my PhD, I worked as a Research Assistant at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where my research investigated i) poverty, food security and fire ecology around Madagascar's protected areas, ii) patterns of plant species richness and endemism in Ethiopia and Sierra Leone, and iii) ecological representation in Key Biodiversity Areas and Important Plant Areas across 28 countries. Working specifically on RBG Kew's Tropical Important Plant Area programme, I also identified and published five Important Plant Areas in Ethiopia.
Research
My PhD research investigates spatiotemporal patterns of human-wildlife conflict across different scales. I use a range of spatial and statistical modelling approaches, combining remotely sensed satellite imagery, species movement data and information on human land use, to understand where, when and how people and wild mammals come into contact and conflict.
At a broad scale, I am systematically identifying which of Africa's mammal species are conflict-prone and whether specific traits or range characteristics are associated with certain conflict risks. Using species distribution models for these conflict-prone species and proxies for different conflict risks, I am also creating spatially explicit predictions of human-wildlife conflict across the continent under present and projected climatic conditions.
At a more local scale, focusing on Kruger National Park in South Africa, I am forecasting human-elephant conflict in near real-time, using a mechanistic movement framework, the spatial absorbing Markov chain.
Ultimately, my research aims to identify hotspots of different human-wildlife conflict risks, such as crop raiding, to inform conservation interventions across landscapes and support a transition from conflict to coexistence.
