Paul Salaman
Encyclopedia
Paul Salaman is an ornithologist and conservationist
based the World Land Trust - US
, overseeing biodiversity conservation across Latin America
.
in 1971 where he started birding at the age of six, before moving to the UK. In 1979, Paul met David Attenborough
and became enthused by conservation and natural history. From age 14 Paul managed a local nature reserve in London and as an undergraduate in 1991, commenced a series of biodiversity expeditions across Colombia
, which culminated in a series of conservation assessments and actions. In 1991, he discovered a distinctive new species of bird (Vireo) to science and sold the scientific name for $75,000 as an innovative species sponsoring initiative for seeking conservation funds. In 1992, Paul established a nature reserve in southwest Colombia and commenced Project Ognorhynchus to locate and protect the Critically Endangered Yellow-eared Parrot
with Fundacion ProAves
, where he is an elected advisory board member. Graduated in 2001 with a D.Phil from the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology
at the University of Oxford
studying threatened bird populations in southwest Colombia. A post-doc at the Natural History Museum
from 2002 established Project BioMap, before coordinating biodiversity science for Conservation International
across the Tropical Andes Biodiversity Hotspot
. From 2005-2008, Paul was Director of International Programs at American Bird Conservancy
.
Conservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
based the World Land Trust - US
World Land Trust - US
The World Land Trust-US is a US-based nonprofit environmental organization established in 1989 and in 2006 affiliated with World Land Trust, a UK-based nonprofit environmental organization as both organizations are dedicated to minimizing their costs in order to allow donated funds to flow to real...
, overseeing biodiversity conservation across Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
.
Life
Paul Salaman was born in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1971 where he started birding at the age of six, before moving to the UK. In 1979, Paul met David Attenborough
David Attenborough
Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA is a British broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years...
and became enthused by conservation and natural history. From age 14 Paul managed a local nature reserve in London and as an undergraduate in 1991, commenced a series of biodiversity expeditions across Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, which culminated in a series of conservation assessments and actions. In 1991, he discovered a distinctive new species of bird (Vireo) to science and sold the scientific name for $75,000 as an innovative species sponsoring initiative for seeking conservation funds. In 1992, Paul established a nature reserve in southwest Colombia and commenced Project Ognorhynchus to locate and protect the Critically Endangered Yellow-eared Parrot
Yellow-eared Parrot
The Yellow-eared Parrot , is an endangered parrot of tropical America. It is found in the western Andes in Colombia and Ecuador and is closely associated to the wax palm Ceroxylon sp. which is itself endangered.-Range and habitat:The Yellow-eared Parrot nests and lives among wax palms in a few...
with Fundacion ProAves
Fundación ProAves
Fundación ProAves is a nonprofit environmental organization in Colombia established in 1998. Its primary aims are to protects birds of conservation concern and their habitats across Colombia.ProAves has over 60 full-time professional staff...
, where he is an elected advisory board member. Graduated in 2001 with a D.Phil from the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology
Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology
The Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology , at Oxford University, England is an academic body which conducts research in ornithology and the general field of evolutionary ecology and conservation biology, with an emphasis on understanding organisms in natural environments...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
studying threatened bird populations in southwest Colombia. A post-doc at the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
from 2002 established Project BioMap, before coordinating biodiversity science for Conservation International
Conservation International
Conservation International is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, which seeks to ensure the health of humanity by protecting Earth's ecosystems and biodiversity. CI’s work focuses on six key initiatives that affect human well-being: climate, food security, freshwater...
across the Tropical Andes Biodiversity Hotspot
Biodiversity hotspot
A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans.The concept of biodiversity hotspots was originated by Norman Myers in two articles in “The Environmentalist” , revised after thorough analysis by Myers and others in...
. From 2005-2008, Paul was Director of International Programs at American Bird Conservancy
American Bird Conservancy
American Bird Conservancy is a non-profit membership organization with the mission of conserving native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas...
.
Awards
- Young Ornithologist of the Year in 1988 by Royal Society for the Protection of BirdsRoyal Society for the Protection of BirdsBird Notes and News was first published in April 1903.The title changed to 'Bird Notes' in 1947. In the 1950s, there were four copies per year . Each volume covered two years, spread over three calendar years...
. - BP Conservation Award overall winner in 1991
- Student Lecture Award at the Edward Grey Institute for Ornithology 1993
- Ness Award: National Young Explorer of the Year by the Royal Geographical SocietyRoyal Geographical SocietyThe Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
(1995) - Elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical SocietyRoyal Geographical SocietyThe Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
Bird taxa described by Paul Salaman and other authors
- Choco VireoChocó VireoThe Chocó Vireo is a species of bird in the Vireonidae family. It is found in western Colombia and has recently been found in north-west Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.The species was not described until 1996...
(Vireo masteri) (1996) - Chestnut-capped PihaChestnut-capped PihaThe Chestnut-capped Piha is a species of bird in the Cotingidae family.It is endemic to Colombia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
(Lipaugus weberi) (2001) - Munchique Wood-WrenMunchique Wood-wrenThe Munchique Wood-Wren is a member of the wren family , described as new to science in 2003. It was first observed by Steven Hilty in the 1980s and not described until detailed studies by Paul Salaman, Paul Coopmans, Thomas Donegan and others in the region in 2001...
(Henicorhina negreti) (2003) - Upper Magdalena TapaculoUpper Magdalena TapaculoThe Upper Magdalena Tapaculo is a member of the tapaculos, a group of Neotropical birds. It was described as new to science in 2005....
(Scytalopus rodriguezi) (2005) - Antioquia Brown-banded AntpittaBrown-banded AntpittaThe Brown-banded Antpitta is a species of bird in the Formicariidae family. It is endemic to Colombia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and plantations. It is threatened by habitat loss....
(Grallaria milleri gilesi) (2009)