Welcome to Sarah Atkinson, APEM’s latest recruit to the expanding INNS team.
Sarah holding a kiwi
Reducing the impact of human activities on the environment is a key pillar of conservation actions, so following an undergraduate degree in conservation science, and a wealth of international experience in invasive species management it is no surprise that Sarah has become the latest member of APEM’s growing invasive and non-native species team.
Her first paid job was catching hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Scotland; fieldwork that got her out and about in the natural environment. As a species non-native to the Outer Hebrides, this was Sarah’s first taste of applied INNS management.
A hedgehog trap
Sarah then went on to work for NatureScot in a site management role, having to tackle Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) on various sites – and on a grand scale. Shortly after Sarah moved to the Rivers and Fisheries Trust of Scotland working alongside University Aberdeen controlling mink (Neovison vison) across seven river catchments in the Northeast of Scotland. Sarah honed her practical skills in the use of mink rafts as well as engagement with volunteers, citizen scientists and NGOs.
Heading south for the winter (and longer), Sarah spent time in New Zealand, a country renowned for its stringent biosecurity and INNS management working for the Department of Conservation and various NGOs on stoat (Mustela erminae), possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) and rat (Rattus norvegicus) control as well as with a local council on invasive plant management.
A footprint tunnel for mammal monitoring used in New Zealand
Sarah then moved to North Island Seychelles, working on eradicating Myna birds (Acridotheres tristis) and then at the Vallée de Mai UNESCO World Heritage Site where she was part of several control pilot projects for invasive plants such as guava (Psidium cattleianum), as well as black rats (Rattus rattus) and yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes). During her time in the Seychelles Sarah experimented with several innovative methods of controlling these species (ask her about Vaseline and trees when you meet her!).
A wolf snake with a yellow crazy ant harassing it, taken by Sarah whilst working in the Seychelles
Completing Sarah’s international travels she returned to Scotland, this time working with the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s project ‘Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels’, controlling grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) via trapping and extensive interaction with citizen scientists. Determined to get closer to the Arctic circle, she headed further north, working on the Orkney Isles managing a large field team eradicating stoat (Mustela erminae) using trapping as well as detection dogs.
Today some of the most commonly known INNS in the UK and Ireland are terrestrial, such as Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum), Muntjac deer (Muntiacus reevesi) and Ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameria). APEM’s INNS team has extensive expertise in riparian, aquatic and marine (including estuarine) INNS. Having Sarah join APEM’s INNS team with her extensive skills and experience in terrestrial invasion biology provides us with even more depth to provide our clients with quality INNS related services covering all ecosystems. Her extensive practical field experience and knowledge of detection and control methods are truly international!
To find out more about the full range of INNS services APEM offers please visit our webpage.
Alternatively, further information can be found at the following websites:
http://www.nonnativespecies.org/
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/invasive-non-native-alien-animal-species-rules-in-england-and-wales
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