Maz and Amanda start their PhDs

Our very own Maz and Amanda have both begun their PhDs at Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) after being awarded scholarships by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Cardiff University.

Maz’s PhD will assess the effects of forest restoration on biodiversity and ecosystem function at different stages of restoration as an integral part of the Regrow Borneo initiative. Although there are many reforestation efforts being undertaken in Borneo, there are very few intensive studies such as this, which are evaluating the benefits to the ecosystem including the levels of carbon sequestration as regeneration occurs.

The title of Amanda’s PhD, “The ecology of small sympatric felids in oil palm dominated landscape”, follows her passion for wild cats and her previous experience when undertaking her master’s degree when she played a lead role in DGFC’s leopard cat project. This PhD project is exciting as the five species of wild felids found in Borneo are unique in the way they utilise the plantations and forests around DGFC.

This story was first published in Jungle Times Issue #144 (September-October 2022) and has been edited for the website.