LEAH GERBER A Nation of Noahs 26 years, 26 Noahs. Who’s next? VOID THE OFFICE. And help save the planet. These were Laura King’s guiding principles when she began The New Noah scholarship is inspired by the work of the late Gerald A her studies in wildlife biology. She couldn’t have Durrell, an international conservation known they would lead her on a mission to the Indian Ocean leader who founded what is now known to serve as Canada’s New Noah. King is the latest Noah in as the Durrell Wildlife Trust, and later Wildlife Preservation Canada in Guelph, a tradition which, for almost 30 years, has been protecting Ontario, as the Canadian arm of the Canada’s diversity. organization. Canada’s New Noah position is named for two of Durrell’s most Imagine the worst case scenario 70 first began assessing species and influential books, The Stationary Ark years from now. The unending expanse recommending them for protection in and The New Noah. In them he gives a of trees and lakes in Northern Ontario 1977, the researchers found that only modern interpretation of the religious contain no wildlife at all. The ocean 20 species have recovered enough character, Noah, who saved all the is an empty promise with nothing to be taken off the list completely, Earth’s animals from a flood by putting but seaweed and garbage, and the and five of these were due to two of every kind in a large boat. same for the mountains, prairies and increased sampling efforts. In Mauritius, the Noahs learn the skills rainforests of the West. necessary to preserve species, and are Seems far-fetched? Consider: This makes it plenty clear that our charged with practising them upon their planet’s species – including us humans return to Canada. • In 2014, the World Wildlife Fund – are facing severe challenges. And this But why must biologists travel to stunned the globe when they is where Canada’s New Noah comes Mauritius to learn how to preserve published their findings that in. Since 1990, Wildlife Preservation Canada’s species? the planet’s biodiversity had Canada (WPC), an organization dropped by 52 percent since dedicated to replenishing the country’s When habitat conservation is 1970. The International Union for most threatened species, has sent ineffective, Canada relies on Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) one young wildlife biologist a year the specialized skills of species Red List Index (an indicator that Avoid the office. to Mauritius, the home of the iconic conservation scientists. These people keeps track of global ecological dodo bird and global hub of species must directly intervene and somehow And help save the planet. diversity), reports downward conservation. regenerate disappearing populations. population trends for all of its fully WPC grants the biologist, named the But it’s not as easy as it sounds. And it’s assessed animal groups. New Noah, a six-month scholarship to not easy finding a way to learn. • The Committee on the Status of attend the internationally recognized Gerald Durrell was an early authority Endangered Wildlife in Canada Durrell Conservation Academy on on species conservation training. He (COSEWIC) recommends 739 the island. believed saving species from extinction species for legal protection, while When the scholarship was first was as much art as science. Environment and Climate Change offered, students split their time The world’s conservation authority, Canada considers 77 percent of between Mauritius and the original the International Union for Conservation species within our borders not at risk, training centre in Jersey, an island of Nature, also emphasizes a meaning 23 percent are at risk. in the English Channel in the UK. collaboration of biology and social skills • One recent study from the University Now, the Noah earns a formalized in order to preserve biodiversity. of Victoria found that the federal postgraduate diploma, a program for The IUCN’s format for species government’s measures to protect the world’s aspiring and established conservation strategies highlights three and replenish endangered species conservationists, in the recently key elements: an understanding of the LI LING HO are ineffective. Since COSEWIC established Mauritian campus. ecology of the species in question to 24 alternativesjournal.ca 42:4 2016 42:4 2016 alternativesjournal.ca 25 recognize when the species is stable, development of a plan to achieve population stability, and an emphasis on multistakeholder participation. Arguably, those aiming to be an expert in species conservation will need to be trained in all three elements. They must have solid biological knowledge, practice in preservation techniques and a host of soft skills needed to coordinate projects across the societal stratum. While Canada’s formal education system excels at establishing scientific foundations, students are often left tracking down opportunities for the other pieces of their conservation frog guy + 1 education. Often, these opportunities are costly, underpaid or unpaid. Patrick Moldowan, last year’s Noah, is frustrated by the lack of practical training in formal conservation education. “Students are coming out of a lot of programs with a really well grounded basis in theory … but a lot of students maybe aren’t so familiar with what that actually looks like on the ground. If you have a theory, how do you use it?” Species-led wildlife preservation involves a range of highly specific techniques and methods, like the ability to recognize species in the wild, track and find them, move them from one place to another, “head-start” or JULIA L. RILEY American bullfrog weighs in on Patrick Moldowan's amphibian research in Ontario's Algonquin Park. raise them in captivity to a certain age before release, use geolocators to trace movements, create artificial breeding essential aspects of conservation that will best prepare them for the people dedicated to saving the world’s grounds … to name a few. Species education, they aren’t the only skills conservation job market.” wildlife. They learn a host of skills, both conservation scientists must know a needed. For almost 30 years, WPC has technical and soft, often neglected in variety of methods in order to select One recent study published in quietly bridged this discrepancy by traditional science-based programs. and adapt the best practice for their Conservation Biology analyzed sending students to study at the Durrell While the New Noah program projects. conservation job advertisements in Conservation Academy through its does help one lucky grad build an This type of work is rarely taught government, non-profit and private New Noah program. outstanding resume, it’s also doing hands-on in formal graduate programs. sectors. The researchers found that The postgraduate diploma in something more important: breaking Most courses include some field- besides practical scientific knowledge, endangered species recovery is down, a little more with each additional work, but this is not usually tailored 74 percent of the advertisements accredited through the UK’s University Noah, the disassociation between to species-led preservation. Instead, were also devoted to nondisciplinary of Kent, and taught by world leaders studying conservation issues and this is usually acquired once students skills including project management, in conservation science. The course creating their solutions. MATT BOYD MATT find themselves on the job. Moldowan interpersonal skills, written is divided into several modules Laura King feeds pieces of squid to a juvenile red-tailed tropicbird Phaethon( rubricauda) feels this can be a disservice. “When communication, program leadership and covering biology and ecology Among the sunbeams coming on Ile aux Aigrettes, Mauritius. These seabirds are being raised on the island to support a lot of students are getting out into networking. Targeted interviews with of small populations, recovery through Kelly green palms, Laura ecosystem restoration as a whole, as healthy seabird populations support other species the forest, or the lake, or the desert or industry professionals in charge of hiring techniques, leading conservation King pushes her boundaries as a on the island too. wherever they may be working, they’re yielded similar results. The authors write, projects, education and stakeholder scientific professional. Whether she’s Previous page: Laura climbs a tree in Black River Gorges National Park, Mauritius, to confounded by a whole new series of “This discrepancy between academic management, and a research project in climbing trees in full hazmat gear to find check a nesting box used by echo parakeets Psittacula( eques). The population of these challenges that maybe they’ve never training and professional needs can species recovery. parakeets, or learning about volunteer rare birds is recovering thanks to these specially designed boxes, which provide safe spots encountered earlier in their studies.” make it difficult for graduate students Students are exposed to a management in the classroom, each for pairs to nest and raise chicks as enough large mature trees aren’t available anymore. While theory and practice are two to identify the skills and experiences passionate, international community of week strengthens her confidence. 26 alternativesjournal.ca 42:4 2016 42:4 2016 alternativesjournal.ca 27 “You know, before [the New Noah This is the true legacy of the New drivers that are forcing human training and leadership development, program] I knew how to take samples Noah program. Year after year, behaviours, to look at the governments bringing us back to the New Noah and do T-tests and run a scientific Canada’s New Noahs have had their and industries operating in a country program. research project, but I did not know eyes opened not only to the skills, but and figure out collaborative ways to “This training in Mauritius is leading how to achieve conservation.” to the necessary integrative points of reach your goals. Most importantly, I Canadian conservation projects,” She admits, “It sounds cheesy, view to be leaders.