Curriculum Vitae
- 2017–Present: PhD Researcher, London NERC DTP, Institute of Zoology and UCL Anthropology
- 2014–2017: Project Officer, Science Programme, UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre
- 2013–2014: MSc in Environmental Monitoring, Modelling and Management, King’s College London
- 2009–2013: BSc in Environmental Science, University of East Anglia
ResearchGate
Research Interests
I am interested in biodiversity conservation in socio-ecological systems, specifically how to integrate conservation planning with local socio-economic development. I am particularly interested in tropical terrestrial ecosystems, spatial analysis, integrated social conservation measures and landscape ecology.
My PhD research focuses on defining and analysing the impact of different socio-economic scenarios of change on forest restoration planning in the Atlantic Forest biome, in Brazil.
Current Research
I am a PhD student funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) working with ZSL’s Institute of Zoology and UCL Anthropology department. My research focuses on developing and analysing socio-economic scenarios of change for the Atlantic Forest biome in Brazil, focusing on forest restoration implementation at the landscape scale and its impacts on people and biodiversity.
The Atlantic Forest of Brazil is one of 25 biodiversity conservation hotspots, lying within the most species rich region on Earth, the Neotropics. Over 80% of Brazil’s population live within the biome range, creating strong competition for land between population and the natural habitat. The region has lost an estimated 85% of its native forest cover, along with several endemic species. It is also a world restoration hotspot.
This project focuses on the mechanisms and pathways for forest restoration, considering drivers and socio-economic changes to 2030 to assess the options for restoration under different development scenarios. It will include qualitative and quantitative methods, using Participatory Scenario Development and stakeholder workshops in Brazil to design contextual narratives of change, and share local and expert knowledge on the impacts of forest restoration, including within the framework of Brazil’s Native Vegetation Protection Law (NVPL) which sets specific restoration requirements for this biome.
Supervisors
Prof Ken Norris, ZSL Institute of Zoology
Prof Katherine Homewood, University College London, Dept of Anthropology
Dr Piero Visconti, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) (Vienna)
Publications
Darrah, S., Shennan-Farpón, Y., Loh, J., Davidson, Nick C., Finlayson, M., Gardner, R. and Walpole, Matt J. (2019) Improvements to the Wetland Extent Trends (WET) index as a tool for monitoring natural and human-made wetlands. Ecological Indicators 99, 294–298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.12.032
Dinerstein, E., Olson, D., Joshi, A., Vynne, C., Burgess, N.D., […], Shennan-Farpon, Y., Kindt, R., Lillesø, J-P, B., van Breugel, P., Graudal, L., Voge, M., Al-Shammari, K. F. and Saleem, M. (2017) An Ecoregion-based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm. BioScience. 67(6): 534–545.
Meng, H., Carr, J., Beraducci, J., Bowles, P., Branch, W.R., Capitani, C., Chenga, J., Cox, N., Howell, K., Malonza, P., Marchant, R., Mbilinyi, B., Mukama, K., Msuya, C., Platts, P.J., Safari, I., Spawls S., Shennan-Farpon, Y., Wagner, P. and Burgess, N.D. (2016) Tanzania's reptile biodiversity: Distribution, threats and climate change vulnerability. Biological Conservation, 204, 72–82.
Brooks, T.M., Akçakaya, H.R., Burgess, N.D., Butchart, S.H.M., Hilton-Taylor, C., Hoffmann, M., Juffe-Bignoli, D., Kingston, N., MacSharry, B., Parr, M., Perianin, L., Regan, E.C., Rodriges, A.S.L., Rondinini, C., Shennan-Farpon, Y. and Young, B.E. (2016) Analysing biodiversity and conservation knowledge products to support regional environmental assessments. Nature SCIENTIFIC DATA, 3. doi:10.1038/sdata.2016.7.
