After over a decade leading efforts to protect Argentina’s wild cats, Dr Erica Cuyckens, Assistant Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) in Argentina, describes her recent career change to focus on the conservation of queñoa trees – and why she has no regrets. Migrating from Belgium to Argentina as an exchange
Are you fascinated by the secret lives of plants? Would you like to study the building blocks of most of the planet’s ecosystems, from microscopic algae to towering trees? Find out how to become a botanist and start your wild career! As a botanist, you could help conserve, restore and enhance species and special sites;
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic I was fortunate enough to steal an hour of time from Rupert Koopman, the Conservation Manager for the Botanical Society of South Africa (BotSocSA). Prior to this role Rupert spent more than a decade as a botanist with CapeNature, focusing on Fynbos, threatened species and habitats in the
“Plants are these primary producers that can take energy from the stars and turn it into food, and when you’re considering things from a conservation perspective I think it just makes sense to make them the centre point.” Within conservation, plants are a vital but often overlooked component and the hugely energetic Matt Candeias is on a mission to change that.
