Heather Needham

Heather, passionate about implementing effective conservation solutions, currently works as the Biodiversity Manager at the University of Oxford, where she delivers initiatives to enhance biodiversity within the University’s operations and supply chain. She was awarded the King’s College London Emerging Leader Award for her work championing conservation and sustainability. Heather led a team of three to implement the ‘Think Wilder’ project, teaching nature education in schools in the UK. The project received recognition from the WFUNA Under the Starry Sky Program, global initiative to empower youth action towards the UN SDGs.

Heather holds an MSc in Biodiversity Conservation & Management from the University of Oxford, specialising in using satellite data to forecast the future impacts of climate, land use and human pressures on Sri Lankan Elephants. Her academic journey includes a BSc in Geography (with Geocomputation & Spatial Analysis) from King’s College London (KCL), where she explored the consequences of post-conflict development on deforestation in Colombia, using satellite imagery.

With a Royal Geographical Society grant, Heather installed low-cost climatic sensors in cloud forests of the Colombian Andes. Her research earned her the 2021 Duke of Wellington Medal, King's highest honour for a graduating student. Heather monitored elephants and birds in the Okavango Delta, Botswana with Elephants without Borders, supported by a fellowship from King's. Her experience also encompasses valuable contributions at Fauna and Flora International, where she designed policy and best practice for utilising technology to deliver conservation projects around the world

LOCATION:	Puerto Williams	AREA OF STUDY:	Threats to native birds
NATIONALITY:	UK	SPONSOR:	Cape Horn Interntional Center
FILMMAKER:	Juliana Deeke

START DATE:	23rd January
END DATE:	6th February
LOCATION:	Puerto Williams
END POINT:	UK

AREA OF STUDY:	Threats to native birds
SPONSOR:	Cape Horn Interntional Center
FILMMAKER:	Juliana Deeke

Area of Study: Invasive Mink impact on native birds

Island biodiversity, shaped by unique traits and isolated ecosystems is exceptionally fragile in the face of invasive species. Charles Darwin during his global voyage, observed birds on islands evolving without predators and lacking adaptions for self-defence. The Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve (CBHR) situated at the southernmost tip of South America, appears pristine yet contends with invasive species.

The primary focus of Heather’s project was on the impacts of the invasive American Mink (Neovision vision), on three native ground nesting bird species – Steamer Duck (Tachyeres pteneres), Kelp Goose (Chloephaga hybrida) and Upland Goose (Chloephaga picta). Participating in the ongoing bird consensus and consulting experts at the Cape Horn International Centre, Heather explored the impacts of minks and investigated current conservation initiatives to protect waterfowl populations. Her project concludes with a roadmap for enhanced conservation efforts, advocating for vital habitat protection, long-term mink monitoring, community involvement in decision-making and promoting citizen science.

By documenting the vulnerability of birds to the invasive mink in the CHBR, Heather’s project highlights the urgent needs to preserve these fragile species and ecosystems from non-native predators.