Support my Research in the Amazon Rainforest!
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Wildlife Management in the Amazon Rainforest
My name is Maxine McNaughton and I am from Edinburgh, Scotland!
I’ve been offered an incredible opportunity to study for a PhD on Community-based Wildlife Management in the Peruvian Amazon at the University of Suffolk from January 2020!
Unfortunately, like many conservation efforts the project is short on funding, leaving me faced with a difficult situation of finding the extra money to make it happen - this is where you generous people come in!
I chose to apply for this PhD project because of the real impact the research will have on native wildlife and communities in the Peruvian Amazon; with the project being conducted in the depths of the Amazon rainforest!
It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and something I feel I have worked hard to earn, and I would hate for money to be the crushing factor!
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Alongside a specialist team of researchers and the Maijuna indigenous people, my role in the research is to monitor the distribution of mammals in Peru using camera traps and remote audio recorders.
With this information, I can provide advice to the indigenous community for creating a new no-off-take zone where hunting is restricted, and ecotourism can provide an opportunity for economic growth.
I will also consider the ecology of species including: jaguar, margay, tapir, white-lipped peccary, red brocket deer, paca, red howler monkey, and many other species living in the rainforest. I can then measure the success of conservation interventions and the benefits to threatened mammal species and their habitat.
My research will be a great example of applied conservation where our efforts will contribute to community-based, sustainable wildlife management of the rainforest’s dwindling resources.
WHY SHOULD I DONATE?
I am one of many individuals that comes from a working-class background and has been supported by an amazing single-mum. For this reason, I have always worked hard to earn my way, balancing a part-time job alongside my studies. Although I plan to work alongside the PhD when in the UK, this alone will not be enough to make ends meet.
After a difficult time at school and not getting into university on my first attempt, I have proved I am a smart and determined individual that will persevere and not stop until I reach my career goal; to make a difference in the field of conservation.
My academic achievements
I attended the University of Stirling and achieved my BSc Conservation Biology and Management with Honours (2:1). I also achieved a first class grade for my self-constructed dissertation project 'Is fortress conservation the correct strategy to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and secure the conservation of threatened mammal species in sub-Saharan Africa.'
I then attended the University of Glasgow and achieved my MSc Quantitative Methods in Biodiversity, Conservation and Epidemiology with Merit! For my thesis, I collaborated with wildlife conservation charity Wildlife Act out in South Africa, performing a field research project on the 'Behavioural plasticity of cheetah in response to lion and wild dog presence'.
From these achievements among others, I know I will commit 1000% of my efforts into this PhD! With a background in mammal research, human-wildlife conflict in developing countries and ecological consultancy, I am primed and ready to take on this challenge and find long-lasting solutions to biodiversity loss in one of the most species-rich corners of #OurPlanet
WHERE WILL MY MONEY GO?
As a potential donor, you have the right to know where your donations will go. Funds will only be used for maintenance costs and travel to/from the field site (London and Peru).
NEXT STEPS
To raise awareness of the important research I am doing and to show donors my sincere thanks for supporting my project, I intend on keeping a PhD diary throughout the entire experience in the form of photographs and videos. In doing so, I can share with you all a personal log of all the challenges, achievements and incredible experiences along the way.
Thank you for reading about my funding campaign!
PLEASE SHARE, AND DONATE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter @MaxineM_M
Instagram @maxinem_m
LinkedIn Maxine McNaughton
My name is Maxine McNaughton and I am from Edinburgh, Scotland!
I’ve been offered an incredible opportunity to study for a PhD on Community-based Wildlife Management in the Peruvian Amazon at the University of Suffolk from January 2020!
Unfortunately, like many conservation efforts the project is short on funding, leaving me faced with a difficult situation of finding the extra money to make it happen - this is where you generous people come in!
I chose to apply for this PhD project because of the real impact the research will have on native wildlife and communities in the Peruvian Amazon; with the project being conducted in the depths of the Amazon rainforest!
It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and something I feel I have worked hard to earn, and I would hate for money to be the crushing factor!
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Alongside a specialist team of researchers and the Maijuna indigenous people, my role in the research is to monitor the distribution of mammals in Peru using camera traps and remote audio recorders.
With this information, I can provide advice to the indigenous community for creating a new no-off-take zone where hunting is restricted, and ecotourism can provide an opportunity for economic growth.
I will also consider the ecology of species including: jaguar, margay, tapir, white-lipped peccary, red brocket deer, paca, red howler monkey, and many other species living in the rainforest. I can then measure the success of conservation interventions and the benefits to threatened mammal species and their habitat.
My research will be a great example of applied conservation where our efforts will contribute to community-based, sustainable wildlife management of the rainforest’s dwindling resources.
WHY SHOULD I DONATE?
I am one of many individuals that comes from a working-class background and has been supported by an amazing single-mum. For this reason, I have always worked hard to earn my way, balancing a part-time job alongside my studies. Although I plan to work alongside the PhD when in the UK, this alone will not be enough to make ends meet.
After a difficult time at school and not getting into university on my first attempt, I have proved I am a smart and determined individual that will persevere and not stop until I reach my career goal; to make a difference in the field of conservation.
My academic achievements
I attended the University of Stirling and achieved my BSc Conservation Biology and Management with Honours (2:1). I also achieved a first class grade for my self-constructed dissertation project 'Is fortress conservation the correct strategy to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and secure the conservation of threatened mammal species in sub-Saharan Africa.'
I then attended the University of Glasgow and achieved my MSc Quantitative Methods in Biodiversity, Conservation and Epidemiology with Merit! For my thesis, I collaborated with wildlife conservation charity Wildlife Act out in South Africa, performing a field research project on the 'Behavioural plasticity of cheetah in response to lion and wild dog presence'.
From these achievements among others, I know I will commit 1000% of my efforts into this PhD! With a background in mammal research, human-wildlife conflict in developing countries and ecological consultancy, I am primed and ready to take on this challenge and find long-lasting solutions to biodiversity loss in one of the most species-rich corners of #OurPlanet
WHERE WILL MY MONEY GO?
As a potential donor, you have the right to know where your donations will go. Funds will only be used for maintenance costs and travel to/from the field site (London and Peru).
NEXT STEPS
To raise awareness of the important research I am doing and to show donors my sincere thanks for supporting my project, I intend on keeping a PhD diary throughout the entire experience in the form of photographs and videos. In doing so, I can share with you all a personal log of all the challenges, achievements and incredible experiences along the way.
Thank you for reading about my funding campaign!
PLEASE SHARE, AND DONATE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter @MaxineM_M
Instagram @maxinem_m
LinkedIn Maxine McNaughton
Organizer
Maxine McNaughton
Organizer
Scotland
