Howard P. Nelson BSc, MPhil, PhD

University Affiliate Lecturer / FFI Lecturer in Conservation Leadership and Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College

Island ecology, sustainable natural resource use and the science-policy interface of protected areas, wildlife management and forestry

Biography

Career

• 2019-present: Lecturer in Conservation Leadership, Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and University Affiliate Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. Class 1 Fellow, Graduate Tutor and Director of Studies, Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge
• 2017-2019: Senior Lecturer & Programme Leader Wildlife Conservation, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Chester, UK
• 2014-2017: Lecturer & Programme Leader Wildlife Conservation, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Chester, UK
• 2012 – 2013: Lecturer & Coordinator, MSc in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in the Caribbean, Dept. of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, Trinidad.
• 2009 – 2012: Project Manager & Scientific Coordinator, EU-Edulink Regional MSc Biodiversity Project, Office of Research Development and Knowledge Transfer, University of the West Indies, Trinidad
• 2008 – 2009: Biodiversity Specialist, Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit, Ministry of Planning, Housing and the Environment, Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
• 2005-2008: Chief Executive Officer, Asa Wright Nature Centre, Trinidad, West Indies
• 2003-2008: Environmental Conservation Manager, Asa Wright Nature Centre and William Beebe Tropical Research Station, Trinidad, West Indies
• 2000-2001: Environmental Biologist, Ministry of the Environment, Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
• 1998 – 1999: Fauna Specialist & Assistant to Team Leader, National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, Trinidad and Tobago. Environmental Management Authority, Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
• 1989 – 1995 Biologist, Wildlife Section – Forestry Division, Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Qualifications

• 2015: PG Cert. Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, University of Chester, UK
• 2004: PhD Wildlife Ecology & Forestry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• 1996: MPhil Zoology West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad, WI
• 1989: BSc Zoology & Chemistry, West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad, WI

Research

My research centres around issues related to Caribbean island ecology and conservation and focuses on three broad themes:

1. understanding patterns of wildlife populations over time and space;
2. socio-ecological dimensions of natural resource use; and
3. the science-policy interface of protected areas and wildlife management.

My research takes an applied, collaborative approach to tackling conservation on islands. While my early work focused on ecology and population dynamics of threatened and exploited vertebrates, my research since then has included forest ecosystem modelling, human dimensions of conservation, response of forest systems to climate change and protected areas management.

My most recent primary research reflect my interest in the science-policy interface of Caribbean forest systems. Central to my collaborations, is developing professional partnerships and promoting knowledge transfer to build capacity in local stakeholders. Thus, my work on climate-change adaptation in dry forests of Grenada, prioritization of Caribbean endemic bird species for conservation, and work on protected area management in Trinidad and Tobago emphasises this interest in forest conservation on Small Island Developing States.

Publications

Journal articles

• Rostant, L., J. Agard, E. Devenish-Nelson, L. Beddoe, N. Nathai-Gyan & H. Nelson (2023) Density of red-brocket deer (Mazama americana trinitatis cetartiodactyla: Cervidae) on the continental island of Trinidad, WI, Neotropical Biodiversity, 9:1, 51-55, DOI: 10.1080/23766808.2023.2177004
• Nelson, H.P and Devenish-Nelson, E.S., 2022. The future of Caribbean endemic bird conservation in the Anthropocene. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, 35, pp.96-107. DOI https://doi.org/10.55431/jco.2022.35.96-107
• Wunderle, J.M., Bobonis-Vázquez, Y.M., Candelario, D., Devenish-Nelson, E.S., Padró, V.M.C., Eckelmann, C.M., Hernández, D.G.G., Headley, M., James, C., Nelson, H.P. and Nieves-Rodríguez, E., 2022. In memoriam: Dr. Frank H. Wadsworth, 1915–2022. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, 35, pp.52-58. doi 10.55431/jco.2022.35.52-58.
• Devenish-Nelson, E.S. and Nelson, H.P., 2021. Abundance and density estimates of landbirds on Grenada. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, 34, pp.88-98.
• Rostant, L., Nelson, H., Devenish-Nelson, E., Beddoe, L. A., Nathai-Gyan, N., & Agard, J. (2021). Abundance of the exploited red-rumped agouti (Dasyprocta leporina Rodentia: Dasyproctidae) on the island of Trinidad. Mammalia, 85(5), 396-400.
• Nelson, H.P., Devenish-Nelson, E.S., Rusk, B.L., Geary, M. and Lawrence, A.J., 2020. A review of tropical dry forest ecosystem service research in the Caribbean–gaps and policy-implications. Ecosystem Services, 43, p.101095. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101095
• Devenish-Nelson, E.S., Weidemann, D., Townsend, J. and Nelson, H.P., 2019. Patterns in island endemic forest-dependent bird research: the Caribbean as a case-study. Biodiversity and Conservation, 28(7), p.1885-1904. DOI: 10.1007/s10531-019-01768-x
• Nelson, H.P., Devenish-Nelson, E.S., Rusk, B.L., Geary, M. and Lawrence, A.J., 2018. A call to action for climate change research on Caribbean dry forests. Regional Environmental Change, 18(5), p.1337-1342. Doi 10.1007/s10113-018-1334-6
• Devenish-Nelson, E. S., Weidemann, D. E., Townsend, J. and Nelson, H. P. 2017. The role of a regional journal as a depository for valuable ornithological data as demonstrated by Caribbean forest endemic birds. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, 30(1).

Book & book chapters

• Nelson, H.P. 2018. Wildlife Policy and Law in the Caribbean. In North American Wildlife Policy and Law, Leopold B. D., Cummins, J. L. and Kessler, W. B. (eds). Boone and Crockett Club. p. 503-518. ISBN: 9781940860329.
• Nelson, H.P., Garraway, J. and James, C.J. 1999 Ecotourism as a Strategy for Sustainable Development – the Experience of the Asa Wright Nature Centre. UNDP, Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Teaching

• MPhil in Conservation Leadership
• Geographical Tripos Part II: Life within Limits

External activities

• Chairman, Darwin Darwin Plus Advisory Group (DPAG), Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• Trustee, Global Diversity Foundation (GDF)
• Trustee, The Linnean Society of London
• Member, Knowledge & Data Task Force, Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
• Co-chair Endangered & Threatened Species Working Group, BirdsCaribbean
• Technical Advisor on forest livelihoods and governance, Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI)

Policy and research impact

• National Protected Area Systems Plan for Trinidad and Tobago. Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GCP/TRI/003/GFF) 2018.
• National Wildlife Policy for Trinidad and Tobago. Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. 2012.
• National Forest Policy for Trinidad and Tobago. Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 2010.
• National Protected Areas Policy for Trinidad and Tobago. Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 2010.