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2023
2023 Sir Charles Blois Explorer SERGIO NOLAZCO PLASIER – EXPLORING SINCHIMARKA
Sergio is an ecologist with a passion for wildlife and remote exploration. He has conducted scientific research in South America and Australia and biodiversity surveys throughout much of the Peruvian Andes.
Sergio’s expedition is the first comprehensive scientific exploration of the Sinchimarka forest, an exceptionally well-preserved and remote high-altitude Andean Forest. This remnant forest is home to Polylepis, a tree species that is specialised to grow to nearly 5000masl, higher than any other tree species on Earth, and was home to the Pre-Columbian Sinchimarkan community, harbouring unique biodiversity and archaeological assets. A team of researchers will assess the dynamics of its biodiversity through seasons, search for new species, and document the cultural knowledge that has survived through centuries of colonialism.
Supported by Sir Charles Blois
2023 Elodie Sandford Explorer REZA SAPUTRA – BIRD'S HEAD PENINSULA ORCHIDS
Reza works as a Forest Ecosystem Specialist and lives in the first conservation province in the world, ie West Papua, Indonesia. His research is focused on the conservation of orchid species, often involved with fundamental-for-conservation research such as taxonomy, conservation assessment, ecology and in-situ conservation areas management. He has published several books and scientific articles on the diversity and conservation of plants, particularly orchids.
Reza's expedition will explore the centre of the Bird’s Head New Guinea pristine forest, the western slope of Mts. South Tamrau Nature Reserve, never explored by botanists or naturalists. Reza will be photographing orchids and their habitat, as well as preserving material for herbarium samples, in order to write species descriptions and illustrations for the ‘Orchids of Bird's Head Peninsula’ book project.
Supported by friends and family of Elodie Sandford
2023 Judith Heath Explorer DEWI LESTARI – RAFFLESIA EXPEDITION
Dewi is a botanist and junior researcher at The Research Centre for Plant Conservation, Botanic Gardens, and Forestry BRIN (National Research and Innovation Agency) Indonesia. Dewi has participated in expeditions to study Indonesian biodiversity in Java, Bali, Sumatra, and Kalimantan Islands.
Dewi’s expedition will be carried out in Teluk Sumbang, Berau, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, a remote and barely accessible area reported as a new habitat for Rafflesia. The team will work closely with local communities to enable knowledge-sharing initiatives. The expedition objectives are to confirm the Rafflesia species, investigate the population and ecological habitat, ethnobotany, and social data of the surrounding people, collect samples and specimens for further study, and conduct ex-situ conservation research on this species in Purwodadi Botanic Garden.
Supported by and in memory of Judith Heath
2023 Neville Shulman Explorer NATALIE KNOWLES – KAYAPO DEFENDERS OF THE AMAZON
Nat is a Canadian conservationist with a background in anthropology, geography, and ecology, and a passion for remote wild landscapes and the diverse cultures of the world. Nat uses participatory research to address the root causes of deforestation, resource extraction, climate change and biodiversity loss and push the boundaries of scientific thinking to include diverse knowledges.
Nat's expedition will work with the Kayapo Indigenous communities of the Xingu River. Kayapo communities have defended their 10.5 million hectares of pristine Amazon rainforest from rampant deforestation for generations. This expedition will engage Kayapo youth citizen-scientists in remote wildlife monitoring and participatory video to enhance community-based conservation and document the importance of traditional Kayapo knowledge, culture, governance and lifestyles for large-scale conservation.
Supported by Neville Shulman CBE
2023 SES Explorer SARAH TUBBS – CONSERVING CAMBODIAN CETACEANS
Sarah is a marine mammal researcher and conservationist focused on answering key ecological questions to inform conservation policy in developing counties. She is currently a first-year PhD student at Newcastle University, as well as the Co-Founder of NGO Khmer Ocean Life.
Sarah’s expedition will fill baseline knowledge gaps on population sizes and distribution of Cambodia’s endangered and heavily threatened cetacean species, the lack of which hinders effective conservation action. During this 10-week expedition, local research assistants will be trained, and boat surveys will be conducted throughout the full coastline. Sarah will work in close collaboration with local NGOs, students, and the Cambodian Fisheries Administration throughout the project. Ultimately, findings will be used by resource managers to help shape effective management strategies.
Supported by Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust, O’Hea Charitable Trust, Avocet Insurance Consultants, and Pam Coleridge Family
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SES Endorsed Expedition
Angus Wingfield – South African Giraffe Research Expedition 2018
The South African Giraffe Monitoring and Research Expedition 2018 is the first SES Endorsed Expedition. It will be run by SES Member and Expedition Specialist Angus Wingfield (Africa Wild Trails Founder and Director, Expedition Trainer and Chief Expedition Leader for Africa Wild Trails Limited - www.africawildtrails.com) and it gives the Society’s Members the opportunity to take part in an expedition that they would otherwise not be able to do.
WHERE: KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
WHEN: 4th to 18th August 2018
WHAT: Field-based research and monitoring of the South African Giraffe
WHO: Facilitated by SES Member and Africa Wild Trails Director and Expedition Leader, Angus Wingfield and Africa Wild Trails in country expert, Dr Peter Calverly
COST: £1,320pp + flights
This scientific expedition focuses on gathering information on the movement patterns, habitat use and foraging behaviour of the South African Giraffe in the remote Tugela River Valley in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Participants will operate out of a rustic tented base camp and will be required to follow and observe herds of Giraffe on foot, collecting relevant data and samples in the field and collating their findings in our field laboratory. Information gathered from the expedition will be used to aid in the conservation of Giraffe in the immediate area and will be shared with the broader scientific community.
RATIONALE
In 1996, x20 Giraffe were reintroduced into a 100,000ha game preserve in central KwaZulu-Natal. Since then the protected biosphere area available to Giraffe has shrunk to 10,000ha while the Giraffe numbers have swollen to an estimated 150 individuals. There is concern that future increases in Giraffe numbers may have a negative impact on other plant and animal species in the area through direct and indirect competition and over-browsing. Furthermore, as intraspecific competition between Giraffe increases, individuals may be forced outside of the protected area and into unprotected areas where they may fall victim to poaching. The isolated nature of the study site, the rugged terrain and lack of road infrastructure calls for an outdoor field-based approach to research. It has therefore been recommended that a scientific expedition be launched aimed at gathering the information needed to make informed decisions with regards to the future conservation and management of this Giraffe population.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
- Create an identikit for Giraffe in the area for our own use and for local rangers.
- Follow movement patterns and habitat use directly on foot and remotely using modern tracking techniques such as VHF and GPS telemetry.
- Observe the dietary preferences of Giraffe, how this changes between seasons and possible competition for food with other species.
- Basic population dynamics: estimate population size, demographics and growth rates.
METHODOLOGY AND STUDY SITE
Only 30% of the study site is accessible by road and even then 4x4 vehicles are necessary. Most of the data collection will be done on foot and operating out of remote base camps. Participants will be led in the field by a Field Biologist who will oversee data collection. Data and samples will be collected according to accepted scientific methodology and sent off to laboratories for analysis where necessary. Zingela Safaris borders the Tugela River in central KwaZulu-Natal and forms the hub of the research project. From here, we will follow Giraffe herds as they navigate from one protected area to the next.
There are 5-6 places available for SES Members on this expedition. If you are interested in taking part, please contact Angus Wingfield at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
SES Members and all other participants in this SES Endorsed Expedition take part at their own risk, and will not hold SES, its trustees, employees, volunteers, partners or agents liable (whether in contract or in tort or in negligence or for breach of statutory duty or otherwise) for any loss, damage, personal injury, delay or expense suffered or incurred on any such expedition. SES endorses the aims and objectives of this expedition only.
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Colonel John Blashford-Snell OBE – Kenya Quest 2018
In January 2018, Colonel John Blashford-Snell’s embarked on his Kenya Quest Expedition with his team of doctors, dentists, nurses, biologists, builders, and those who love Africa. The first stage involved carrying out conservation work and wildlife studies, on horseback for those who rode, on the slopes of Mount Kenya, before moving to the Laikipia region, north of Nanyuki, to do more wildlife studies of the larger mammals and botany.
SES Members and all other participants in this expedition did so at their own risk, and did not hold SES, its trustees, employees, volunteers, partners or agents liable (whether in contract or in tort or in negligence or for breach of statutory duty or otherwise) for any loss, damage, personal injury delay or expense suffered or incurred on this expedition. SES championed the aims and objectives of this expedition only.
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James Dyer – Into the depths of the Amazon 2018
WHERE: Manu National Park, Peru
WHEN: Tuesday 8th May to Wednesday 23rd May 2018
WHAT: Field-based research and monitoring deep in the southern Peruvian Amazon
WHO: Facilitated by SES Member James Dyer Expeditions
COST: £2,200 + flights to Cusco (approx £700-£900)
If you are interested in finding out more about this expedition, please see JD Expeditions EIP - Into the depths of the Amazon 2018.pdf and contact James Dyer on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
SES Members and all other participants in this expedition do so at their own risk, and will not hold SES, its trustees, employees, volunteers, partners or agents liable (whether in contract or in tort or in negligence or for breach of statutory duty or otherwise) for any loss, damage, personal injury, delay or expense suffered or incurred on any such expedition. SES champions the aims and objectives of this expedition only.
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Colonel John Blashford-Snell CBE – Bardia Quest 2019
In March 2019 John Blashford-Snell will be taking an expedition to study the unusual wild elephants, Royal Bengal Tiger and the India Rhinoceros in the Bardia reserve. A team of up to 20 will also give aid to the local community. Local guides and naturalists will accompany the team.
SES Members participate in this expedition at their own risk, and do not hold SES, its trustees, employees, volunteers, partners or agents liable (whether in contract or in tort or in negligence or for breach of statutory duty or otherwise) for any loss, damage, personal injury delay or expense suffered or incurred on this expedition. SES champions the aims and objectives of this expedition only.
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