Grupo de Especialistas en Cisnes de la CSE de la UICN

Having written a final year dissertation on mate choice in Mallard Anas platyrhynchos at the University of Leicester, I applied to the Wildfowl Trust (now the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, WWT) on the chance that it might have a research post available. This resulted in my joining the renowned long-term study of the Bewick’s Swans Cygnus c. bewickii, focussing initially on individuals wintering at Slimbridge in SW England, but developing the work into a regional and then a population-level study. My Ph.D. (University of Bristol) was on the migration phenology of individual Bewick’s Swans) and, since then, in addition to a book entitled "Bewick’s Swan" (a Poyser monograph; Rees 2006) I've published over 150 scientific papers and major reports on the behaviour, ecology and dynamics of waterbirds (primarily migratory swans and geese), considering in particular the factors affecting their population trends, distribution and feeding ecology. I've instigated and/or promoted the growth of international research programmes along migration routes, including developing collaborative studies of the Icelandic Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus population, and of the Anglo-Russian study of Bewick’s Swan breeding biology. The latter involved a number of expeditions to the swans’ breeding grounds in the Russian arctic.

Whilst I've worked mainly on swan species, I have also studied and have a keen interest in geese, ducks and other waterbirds.

From 1994 to 2001, I served as Chair of the Wetlands International/IUCN SSC
Swan Specialist Group, returning to this role from 2014 onwards. In 2014 I was also appointed coordinator of the Bewick’s Swan Expert Group, responsible for the implementation of the International Single Species Action Plan for the NW European Bewick’s Swan population. Since 2006 I've been Editor-in-chief of the scientific journal Wildfowl, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in June 2022.

I’m a social ecologist leading WWT’s Ecosystem Health and Social Dimensions team, a dynamic group working at the intersection of social science and ecology. Our mission is to generate and apply evidence that drives wetland restoration by integrating diverse forms of knowledge and insight. Together, my team and I explore the deep connections between people and wetlands, investigating how these unique ecosystems benefit communities, shape human behaviour, and can be protected for future generations.
Our current priorities include:
•    Capturing the social, cultural, and wellbeing benefits that wetlands bring to people and communities
•    Understanding and encouraging human behaviours that support wetland conservation
•    Exploring the human drivers of wetland loss and co-creating solutions to address these
We work closely with a wide range of stakeholders to connect research with policy and public engagement, ensuring our findings have real-world impact. From shaping policy and guiding conservation practice, to promoting wetlands through national and international media, we use evidence, storytelling, and creative influencing to champion the value of wetlands and their wildlife.