Our community’s contribution to land management
Bui Van Tan - Biological Researcher, GreenViet Biodiversity Conservation Center, Vietnam
My passion is…
The endangered red-shanked douc (pronounced ‘dook’)
The red-shanked douc (Pygathrix nemaeus) is a spectacular monkey that is endemic to Vietnam and Laos, and may also occur in Cambodia. Their population has undergone a sharp decline and the species is facing many major threats including habitat destruction and fragmentation as a consequence of rapid development, hunting and illegal trade. My research site is called Son Tra peninsula (or ‘Monkey Mountain’ by the former USA military base) and is the best place to observe red-shanked doucs and carry out research. My hope is that my research will help protect this species and its natural habitat into the future. Here is a short video about the red-shanked doucs. For more information, click here.
Dr Sally Bryant – Manager, Science & Planning, Tasmanian Land Conservancy, Australia
My passion is…
Every picture tells a story
My work involves establishing long-term monitoring sites so we can gather information to help us better understand the diversity, health and condition of reserves and the native species they protect.
My team has established 150 fauna and 350 vegetation monitoring sites across the Tasmanian Land Conservancy’s network of private reserves in Tasmania, Australia. Motion sensor camera traps enable us to detect a whole range of species – such as the Tasmanian devil, eastern and spotted-tailed quolls. We can see first-hand how they function normally in the wild, even at night. We can also glimpse some of the challenges they face such as from non-native species such as feral cats and deer.
Over half a million fauna images have been scored so far and yes – we have learned a lot! This exciting work reminds me every day just how important private land reserves are for conservation and the role we play as custodians of nature. For more information see TLC’s ecological monitoring program and carnivorous mammals monitoring.
Amy Maling, Landscape Manager, WWF-Myanmar
My passion is…
Keeping the forests for the people and animals that call them home
I grew up in the Philippines and went on my first forest hike in high school. As soon as I stepped amongst the cool greenery, I knew this was where I wanted to spend my life. I said to my friend ‘I want to be a forester’ and I’m very lucky I got to do what I love.
Now in Myanmar, I’m recently back from an amazing three-day canoe trip exploring Tanintharyi River from north to south. Each night we’d stop at a local village and they would open their homes to us. My happiest times are being with the indigenous people, learning from their wisdom and using my experience to support their vision. Before Myanmar I was based in Cambodia for nine years where we set up 30,000 hectares of forest under community management and developed livelihood projects. It was a small community but they still make USD50,000 each year from these livelihoods – it’s one of my proudest achievements. In Myanmar we have just started our community forestry work and have 6,000 hectares under community management so far.
My favourite moment is waking up in the forest – feeling the calmness and absorbing the energy around me. I’m never afraid in the forest, even when I got lost a few years ago and night fell. It didn’t occur to me to panic. I just put up my hammock, fell asleep and found my way out the next morning. I am like a honey bee, which is my favourite wild animal – bees need forests and forests need bees. I certainly need forests and I hope forests will always let me call them home.
Contact us to share your passion and work with our Community of Practice network, or to nominate someone whose work you have been inspired by.