a bit about me

Tackling conservation challenges requires a robust understanding of both the social and ecological context of the problem, and impacts of the solution. We can do a better job of understanding these. We must find, test, and share holistic solutions. By doing this, I believe we can look towards a  future that is thriving with life and bountiful with promise.

I'm Dr. Peadar Brehony, a social-ecological systems consultant. I recently completed my PhD at the University of Cambridge, in the Department of Geography on understanding conservation efforts from a social-ecological systems perspective. In particular, I focussed on the interplay between history, governance, livelihoods, ecology, and conservation in Southern Kenya.

Over the course of my career before that, I focussed on providing technical assistance to a spectrum of organisations, from international conservation organisations and national governments to place-based charities and land owner associations. For instance, I coordinated a cross-border conservation initiative; I was technical advisor for a Tanzania-based conservation organisation; I worked with a land owners association in Kenya; and I conducting research with a large international conservation organisation in Gabon.

All of this real world experience has grounded me. I understand not just what makes sense theoretically, but also what can happen practically: I'm a pragmatist.

Ultimately, I want to help organisations to use the best knowledge and information they can, to make the best decisions they can, and to share their impact and experiences with others.

That's exactly what my colleague Dr. Peter Tyrrell and I are trying to do with a team at dascot Ltd., where we aim to work with researchers, policy makers, practitioners and citizens to find long-term solutions to the conservation challenges we face. We aim to move conservation to be more socio-economically and socio-ecologically sustainable, and to take a holistic, social-ecological systems approach to conservation challenges. Look us up.

Publications

Instead of a long list here, my research outputs can be found on Google Scholar, or on ResearchGate.

Academic qualifications

PhD Geography, University of Cambridge, UK (2020); BSc (Honours, First Class) Environmental and Earth System Sciences - Zoology, University College Cork, Ireland (2011), with a one year scholarship to University of California, Santa Barbara, USA (Dean's Honours).

Languages: Fluent in English, French, Swahili, conversant in Maa.

Research interests

My research interests include social-ecological resilience; the impacts of droughts; the role of community based monitoring in resource management; large landscape conservation; human-wildlife coexistence (and reducing conflict); the politics of conservation; and food production and society.

I also believe in the importance of building capacity in conservation, particularly with regards to communities who bear the greatest costs in conservation efforts and I'm involved in ongoing efforts to provide these opportunities.

Academic awards, scholarships, funds

University of Cambridge Philosophical Society funding (2019); Philip Lake II Fund (2019); The Nature Conservancy, Africa (2017); University Fieldwork Fund (2017); Corpus Christi College Fieldwork Fund (2017, 2019); Mary Euphrasia Mosley Travel Fund (2017); UCC Science, Engineering, and Food Science Graduate of the Year (2011); Maire Mulcahy Prize - Zoology Graduate of the Year (2011); Dean's Honours University of California (2010); University of California Exchange Scholarship (2009); UCC Academic Honours Scholarship (2008, 2009); UCC Entrance Scholarship (2007).

Memberships

IUCN WCPA Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group, Geographical Society of Ireland, Society for Conservation Biology, Irish Wildlife Trust

Presentations of my research

International Congress for Conservation Biology, Malaysia (2019); Conservation Geopolitics Conference, University of Oxford, UK (2019); Political Ecology Group, University of Cambridge, UK (2018); ECHO East Africa Pastoralist Symposium III, Kenya (2018); International Livestock Research Institute, Kenya (2018); DAI (Development Alternatives Inc.), Kenya (2018); Centre for African Studies, University of Cambridge, UK (2017); Interpretive Guides Society, Tanzania (2016); Kenya's National Elephant Conference (2015); Conserving Elephants and Lions in the Kenya-Tanzania Borderlands, Tanzania (2014).