RSPB CENTRE FOR CONSERVATION SCIENCE RSPB CENTRE FOR CONSERVATION SCIENCE Where science comes to life Contents Knowing 2 Introducing the RSPB Centre for Conservation Science and an explanation of how and why the RSPB does science. A decade of science at the RSPB 9 A selection of ten case studies of great science from the RSPB over the last decade: 01 Species monitoring and the State of Nature 02 Farmland biodiversity and wildlife-friendly farming schemes 03 Conservation science in the uplands 04 Pinewood ecology and management 05 Predation and lowland breeding wading birds 06 Persecution of raptors 07 Seabird tracking 08 Saving the critically endangered sociable lapwing 09 Saving South Asia's vultures from extinction 10 RSPB science supports global site-based conservation Spotlight on our experts 51 Meet some of the team and find out what it is like to be a conservation scientist at the RSPB. Funding and partnerships 63 List of funders, partners and PhD students whom we have worked with over the last decade. Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com) Conservation rooted in know ledge Introduction from Dr David W. Gibbons Welcome to the RSPB Centre for Conservation The Centre does not have a single, physical Head of RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Science. This new initiative, launched in location. Our scientists will continue to work from February 2014, will showcase, promote and a range of RSPB’s addresses, be that at our UK build the RSPB’s scientific programme, helping HQ in Sandy, at RSPB Scotland’s HQ in Edinburgh, us to discover solutions to 21st century or at a range of other addresses in the UK and conservation problems. overseas. It does, however, have a virtual home – a website at rspb.org.uk/science. A crucial element While the RSPB is well known for its wonderful, of the launch of the Centre, the unveiling of this wildlife-rich nature reserves, and for its annual Big new website will give the conservation community Garden Birdwatch, it is far less well known for the better access to our scientific work. This is an remarkable scientific work it undertakes behind the important step in RSPB’s history – only by sharing scenes, in the UK and overseas. Yet, in reality, our our science more openly can we hope that it will scientific programme is an amazing asset, matched have the greatest impact on nature conservation. by few other conservation organisations. Because our scientific work has had a low profile with the To celebrate the launch of the RSPB Centre for wider public, many are unaware of the depth and Conservation Science, we have produced this breadth of our scientific knowledge. And it is this special publication, illustrated with some of our knowledge that informs all of our conservation most influential scientific work from the last work. Be that the way we manage our reserves decade. We have also launched a series of annual to make them better for wildlife, the advice we RSPB Conservation Science Awards. These will provide to others, or the policies that we adopt and be presented to individuals that have shown advocate to change hearts and minds in favour of excellence in the discipline, from talented doctoral nature conservation. students, to those well established in the field. As part of our new corporate strategy, Saving In order to give the Centre substance, and to Nature, we have set ourselves several ambitious ensure we meet our ambition, we will also targets to meet by the end of this decade. develop and improve our science, for example by Amongst these is one of which I am particularly broadening the skills and expertise of our scientific proud: to become established as an internationally staff. Over time, we hope that the Centre will recognised centre of excellence in conservation raise the profile of our scientific work, making the science. While an independent review of RSPB’s RSPB an exciting place for talented conservation scientific programme in 2013 rated our science as scientists to work, and attracting increased support ‘outstanding’ (see box overleaf), there is still some from science funders. Taken together, these will way to go to meet this target. The launch of the help bring the RSPB greater conservation success. RSPB Centre for Conservation Science is designed to put us on the right track. 2 3 RSPB’s science rated as ‘outstanding’ In early April 2013, Professor Sir John Lawton forward with great skill and imagination”, and that chaired a panel of experts who reviewed RSPB’s “...the ‘in house’ Conservation Science Department Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) scientific programme. Here, Sir John outlines is fundamental to the Society’s mission”. his thoughts on the Science Review. We each individually thought we knew broadly I was delighted to be asked to review the RSPB’s what research was undertaken by the Department scientific programme, not least because I had through our long association with RSPB. We were undertaken a similar review 15 years earlier, wrong. We found the shear breadth and depth of and was interested to see how things had the work “staggering” (to quote one panel member changed. I think that it is desperately important at the end of the second day). for conservation organisations to ensure that their policies and practices are based on the best Needless to say, there is always room for Why RSPB needs science dozen locations in the UK, and working across the possible evidence, and consequently was pleased improvement, so we made a series of globe. Most of these scientists have doctorates, to see RSPB opening its science programme up recommendations for the future. We particularly At its most fundamental, we need science to and we have three Professors in the team. Each to external review. I was greatly assisted with the felt that the RSPB’s scientific work deserved to be find practical solutions to the most pressing spring we employ a number of short-term staff review by my co-panel members, Professors David better known, and that they should seek ways of conservation problems, for example working out to help us with our field projects, and in any one Macdonald and Val Brown, and Dr Jenny Gill. communicating their science better. For example, how to save a species approaching extinction, year we have affiliations with 15-20 PhD students they should make much more creative use of or to restore a rainforest that has been destroyed. (see page 66) and a growing number of Masters Over a couple of days, we learnt – among other social media to publicise the amazing work done students. Overall, the RSPB currently invests things – about the RSPB’s role in the State of by the Department. We also felt that the RSPB But we also do it to keep us focussed on the about 6-8% of its conservation spend on its Nature report, and about its work to find solutions should undertake more social science. Whilst highest priorities, credible to Governments and scientific underpinning. to recover the fortunes of threatened species – biological research should remain fundamental to other decision-makers, and successful – because from skylarks, hawfinches and curlews, to migrants, the society, we believe that economic analyses, conservation actions informed by scientific vultures and pygmy hippos. We also heard about conflict resolution, human behavioural studies, evidence are more likely to work than those based Partnership the RSPB’s innovative seabird tagging work, the political science and governance are increasingly on guesswork. suite of experiments they have undertaken on important in trying to find practical solutions to Most of our science is undertaken in partnership their estate, their rainforest and climate change environmental problems. Finally, we thought that with other organisations (overseas, especially our research, and the measurements they have made the science programme could sometimes be The history of science at the RSPB BirdLife partners), and individual scientists in of the services provided by ecosystems. The review swifter of foot in the way that it works, because the Universities and Research institutes. Partnership was meticulously run by RSPB staff, and the fifteen fast-changing world of policy occasionally demands For over four decades, we have invested in science brings complementary skills to our own, as well as separate presentations we heard were excellent rapid responses. However, we accept that finding to help us identify and tackle some of the biggest access to additional funding streams and other without exception. resources for such science could be challenging. problems facing birds and the environment. resources. Among our most important partners are those that fund our work, particularly UK My fellow panel members and I wrote a report of Professor Sir John Lawton Our first research officer was employed in the Governments’ Departments and Statutory Nature our review, which I was invited to present to RSPB’s 1960s, with none of the technology our scientists Conservation Agencies. As our partners and funders Council in early July. Our overarching assessment enjoy today. By the 1970s, we had a small team are so important to us, we provide a full list of them was summarised in the report as follows: whose pioneering work led to some early later in this report. successes, including the recovery of the stone “The review group are unanimous in their view curlew (above) that was on the brink of extinction that the RSPB’s Conservation Science Department in the UK in the early 1980s. From these humble How RSPB does science is outstanding. The quality, depth and breadth of beginnings, our scientific programme has grown, its research would be regarded as excellent in any John Gooday along with RSPB as a whole.