CATARINA C. FERREIRA, PhD CONSERVATION BIOLOGIST
CANADA:
From October 2020 to December 2021, I joined the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (an agency of the Canadian Federal Government) as a Policy and Program Analyst to provide scientific support to risk management decisions related to the introduction of plant pests.
In December 2021, I joined the Science, Monitoring and OECM Recognition Unit of the Protected Areas Directorate, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada as Coordinator of Environmental Programs.
PORTUGAL:
The Alentejano Southwest and Vicentina Coast Natural Park (Portuguese acronym: PNSACV) is one of the largest Protected Areas in Portugal (131,000 ha of mostly private land). It is located in the southwest portion of the country, and it is ran by the Portuguese Ministry of Environment. It is home to several plant and animal endemisms, and a total of 35 different natural habitats, nine of which are considered prioritary and are protected at the European level.
From January 2000 to December 2006, the PNSACV was the main stage for my research. Through different funding schemes over this 6-year period, this is where I developed my Honours thesis and MsC research on European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) population management and conservation, while performing administrative and more technical duties as the Senior Biologist in the Protected Area.
In a nutshell, my main roles were to:
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Develop plans for game species monitoring, conservation and management
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Provide technical support and expertise to game managers and hunting associations to ensure sustainable hunting inside the Protected Area and adjacent Natura 2000 sites
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Data collection and analysis, and production of technical reports and scientific papers
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Develop and supervision of environmental education activities
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Support to the planning of forestry development inside the Protected Area and adjacent Natura 2000 sites.