Alex Stewart (33) is a Biological Monitoring Officer for the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) in Guyana, South America. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry from the University of Guyana and a Master of Science in Natural Resource and Environmental Management from The University of the West Indies. Working closely with local authorities, Alex monitors wildlife populations in the Kanuku Mountains Protected Area in southern Guyana, including the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) and the yellow-spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis).
BIOLOGICAL MONITORING USING DNA ANALYSES
What tools do you use today in conservation that weren’t available to previous generations?
To assess biodiversity in a habitat, the analysis of environmental DNA – or eDNA for short – is becoming a regularly used practice. Animals constantly leave behind genetic traces such as skin cells, feces, or mucus in the water. We can analyze these in water samples from rivers or lakes in the lab. This also allows us to detect rare and elusive species such as Giant Armadillo, Jaguar, Tapir, Arapaima, or Hary eagle in a given area. In addition, drones now play an important role. They enable us to survey areas from the air – for example, to get an overview of habitats used by a species of animal or to identify threats such as deforestation or mining.
How does this help to better protect ecosystems and biodiversity?
Modern methods, such as environmental DNA analysis, complement traditional approaches like camera traps or direct observations. They save time and resources and also provide new insights. For example, using DNA samples, we were able to identify fish species previously unknown in Guyana during a rapid biodiversity assessment. Drones help us survey large areas quickly – routes that would have taken hours or days to cover in the past can be surveyed in a matter of minutes with the use of drones. This monitoring allows us to detect changes early on in the Kanuku Mountains and elsewhere and respond in a targeted manner. In short: Our work generates the knowledge about biodiversity that is necessary to protect ecosystems in the long term and make informed decisions.
What is your biggest challenge right now?
The challenge often starts with just getting out into the field. Many areas are difficult to access – and climate change is making conditions increasingly unpredictable. Longer dry spells, for example, mean that rivers are no longer navigable. Then we have to haul our boats over long distances or accept lengthy detours. Situations like these can really test our motivation. That makes close collaboration within the team and with our partners all the more important. Monitoring in the field means dealing with uncertainties – and keep going anyway.
What drives you - and what do you hope will remain of your work in 20 years?
Above all, I’m driven by the idea that we’re preserving spaces that provide a long-term foundation for life for both people and wildlife. Without protection, biodiversity can disappear – and preventing exactly that motivates me to give my best every day. If ecosystems like the wild forests of the Kanuku Mountains are still intact and functioning in 20 years, we will have achieved a great deal. At the same time, I hope that people understand how important nature conservation is – and use natural resources in a way that ensures they are preserved for future generations.
