The complexity of the topography and geology of the Andes of northern Peru has conspired with two opposing oceanic currents and the climate generated by the Amazon basin to produce an incredible complexity of habitats that have been relatively stable since the mid Miocene; in which a complex and diverse fauna and flora have evolved with many localized endemics. This talk will explore the origins and complexity of this diversity, focusing on the bird species (1300+) of the region, many of which are found nowhere else on earth and will discuss the conservation status of these habitats and species and review new initiatives in their conservation.

Biography

Rob Williams is a conservation ecologist, photographer, author and birding tour guide. Originally from south-west England he found the lack of tropical forests there frustrating and now lives in Peru.

Having studied zoology at the University of Wales Cardiff he moved on to the University of East Anglia for his doctorate where he went on to spend two years wandering around the coniferous forests of northern England at night while studying the elusive Long-eared Owl. Combining this madness with some maths he published a thesis “Large-scale population dynamics of the Long-eared Owl” where he demonstrated that Lack’s hypothesis of latitude correlated survival resulted from migration related mortality. Escaping from the confines of academia and long cold nights in remote forests he travelled working in Brazil, Paraguay, China, Borneo and Spain for a variety of conservation organisations.

In 1999 he moved to Ecuador where he established the Wildlife Conservation Society country programme for two years before moving on to work as the Scientific Advisor for the Americas Programme of BirdLife International. Moving more into sustainable development and community-based conservation he was a founder of the Bosques Sin Fronteras (Forests without Borders) movement and become its first international coordinator. In 2003 he moved to Peru and started working more intensively supporting a local community in their efforts to establish the 34,000 hectare Chaparri Ecological Reserve. He continues to support that initiative as scientific director of the NGO Asociación Naymlap and the Chaparri Ecological Reserve where he has also run the project to reintroduce the critically threatened White-winged Guan.

Since December 2005 he has been working for the Frankfurt Zoological Society coordinating their large-scale rainforest conservation project in Peru focussing on the south-east Andes-Amazon wilderness area that encompasses the protected areas of Manu, Alto Purus, Tambopata, Bahuaja-Sonene, Amarakaeri and Megantoni.

He continues to do field research and current studies include: White-winged Guans, Spectacled Bears, Andean Condors, Pampas and Andean Cats and a new species of Porcupine.

He has published over 25 scientific papers and four books: “A guide to bird-watching in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands”, “Treasures of the Forgotten Forests”, “Birds of the Clouds” and “A Guide to the Wildlife of Chaparri”.

A birder from age 3, he has birded in many areas of the world and has been guiding bird tours for 12 years, having led more than 30 trips to 14 countries. He is married to Anahi, a very tolerant and understanding Peruvian photographer, and they have two sons, Alec and Oliver.