UB ERI Wildlife Biologist Awarded Darwin Fellowship

The United Kingdom’s Darwin Initiative assists countries that are rich in biodiversity but poor in financial resources to meet their objectives under one or more of the three major biodiversity Conventions: the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES); and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), through the funding of collaborative projects which draw on UK biodiversity expertise.

The University of Belize’s Environmental Research Institute (ERI) in 2010 embarked on a Darwin Initiative funded multispecies mammal project in Central Belize with the focus of studying the ecology of mammals in a human dominated landscape in one of the most important biological corridors in Belize. It is under this project that Wildlife Biologist, Said Gutierrez works. As part of capacity building and further strengthening of the organizations with Darwin Initiative funding, persons involved in these projects are eligible to apply for Fellowship funding to obtain formal qualifications or training in policy skills.

In March, Said Gutierrez was awarded a Darwin Fellowship to pursue a Master of Science in Conservation and Biodiversity at the University of Exeter in the UK. The Fellowship will fund the one year Masters programme in full through the fellowship award granted to the University of Southampton (UofS) in the UK. The UofS is the UK host institution for the current Mammal project that the ERI is implementing. Once again the collaboration between UofS and the University of Belize will further strengthen as UofS will be managing the funds for Mr Gutierrez throughout the duration of the Fellowship.

The Fellowship starts 17 September 2012 and ends 30 September 2013. The ERI congratulates Said Gutierrez for his award and wishes him the very best in this new venture.

Read more about our work with Darwin’s Initiative HERE