email: nonie@logicalcobwebs.com
Key Skills
- life-long nature conservationist committed to finding conservation solutions by working with people to meet their social and economic needs
- broad international experience, particularly in non-governmental sector
- people and communication skills; wide cultural experience working with local communities, non-governmental organisations, governments and decision-makers in many different countries
- strategic approach to planning and managing programmmes and projects; specific expertise in protected areas and National Parks
- project management including full project cycle from concept through design to fund raising, implementation, reporting, monitoring and evaluation
- sound research, analytical, problem solving skills; pragmatic and good at finding workable solutions; good at synthesis, report writing and meeting deadlines
- good team worker and communicator, able to use breadth of experience to apply to new situations and contribute to team efforts
Qualifications and Experience
- zoology/ ecology graduate (BSc Zoology, Dundee 1st Class Hons.; MSc Ecology and PhD, Aberdeen – PhD in animal behaviour and ecology)
- ecological research (as an individual and as a member of research teams/ expeditions) in UK, Trinidad and Tobago, France and Senegal
- 20 years practical experience in international nature conservation and rural development as employee and consultant, principally in Africa (1987 to present)
- employed by Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, UK and BirdLife International (as Head of Africa Division), 1987 to 1995: strategic planning and management of field programme and staff in Africa including integrated conservation and rural development projects (ICDPs), negotiation and fund raising (governments, donors), development and capacity building for conservation through individual African conservationists and civil society (communities, NGOs and community based organisations)
- consultant in ecology and biodiversity conservation (Logical Cobwebs Ltd.) based in Scotland since 1995; work carried out internationally (Africa) and in UK (including appointed membership of public conservation bodies)
Examples of recent employment and contracts
Scottish and international (full list available on request)
- (2006-2009): Board Member, Cairngorms National Park Authority (also member of Planning and Audit Committees; Core Paths Plan Steering Group and Cairngorms Local Outdoor Access Forum)
- (2007): Strategic Framework for Management and Interpretation of the suite of Cairngorms National Nature Reserves: Preparation of Framework (as part of team led by Peter Scott Planning Ltd.); ecological and biodiversity conservation input, consultation, workshops, drafting and editing text etc.. For: Scottish Natural Heritage
- (1999-2006): Board Member, Scottish Natural Heritage (advisor to government on nature conservation) East Areas Board and Scientific Advisory Committee
- (2004): Canna Seabird Conservation Project: Preparation of successful bid for LIFE-Nature funding. Liaison with project partners, site visit to island of Canna, development of project plan, preparation of funding proposal and budgets for submission to the LIFE-Nature budget of the European Union. For: The National Trust for Scotland
- (1997-2000): Advisor to WWF Scotland, Wild Rivers Demonstration and Advisory Project. Project planning, management, reporting and monitoring; ecological survey and monitoring. Project aimed to demonstrate practical methods of achieving natural river management and environmental benefits alongside productive agricultural and other land use systems. Worked in partnership with farmers and landowners to establish demonstration sites using available grant aid and to provide advice and guidance on techniques and funding. For: WWF Scotland (EU/EAGGF funding via Scottish Office)
- (2006/07): Evaluation of TMF (Theme-based Co-financing) Project (Dutch government: DGIS): “Small Grants to Site Support Groups” – part of programme to achieve rational natural resource use by local people at priority sites through the enhancement of an effective civil society support framework for sustainable development at local, national, regional and global levels. Evaluation of process and impacts of the Small Grants programme in Africa, Latin America and Asia (20 countries total) with site visits to projects (Uganda & Ghana). For: BirdLife International Secretariat and DGIS
- (2006/07): Review of Lessons learned from the Site Support Group and National Liaison Committee approaches. Assessment of the effectiveness and sustainability of approaches used in the GEF/ UNDP funded “African-NGO government partnerships for sustainable biodiversity action project” (10 countries in Africa) (RAF//97/G31/A/1G/31). For: UNOPS/ UNDP-GEF
- (2006): “Building Capacity for Sustainable Hunting of Migratory Birds in Mediterranean Third Countries” project. Review and analysis of national reports and documents on migratory bird hunting in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Production of 5 synthesis reports on migratory bird hunting (practices; legislation; management; socio-economic/ religious/ cultural importance; economic alternatives to shooting). Reports used to inform decision-makers and contribute to development of best practice guidelines for sustainable hunting in the region. For: BirdLife International; Association les Amis des Oiseaux; Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon; African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement.
- (2005/06): Institutional and Log Frame expert: “Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas in the Cameroon Mountain Range through Community Based Conservation and Sustainable Use”. In-Depth Review stage of Full Project proposal to UNDP/ GEF. Review & analysis, liaison with other consultants and CAMCOF staff; drafting In-Depth Review documents for Peer Review by UNDP. For: CAMCOF (Cameroon Mountains Conservation Foundation) and UNDP/ GEF
- (2004): Final Project Evaluation of UK Darwin Initiative-funded Project: “Action Plans for Conservation of Globally-threatened birds in Africa”. Site visits to species action planning workshops (Tunis) and Project Steering Group meeting (Kampala); interviews/ discussions with project staff and all other stakeholders; preparation final project evaluation report and recommendations for follow-up. For: RSPB (UK) and the Council of the African Partnership of BirdLife International
Examples of publications
(full list available on request)
- Birnie, R V & Coulthard, N D (2000) ‘Application of stewardship to land management’. Unpubd. Final Draft Chapter submitted to WWF Scotland Stewardship project. WWF Scotland, Aberfeldy.
- McKay, C R & Coulthard, N D (2000) The Kilum-Ijim Forests IBA in Cameroon: Monitoring biodiversity using birds as indicators. Procs. IXth PAOC, Accra, Ghana, December 1996. Ostrich Vol. 71 (1&2); 177-180.
- Coulthard, N D & Scott, M S (2001) Flowers of the Forest: Managing Scottish woodlands for wild plant biodiversity. Plantlife UK, London. (http://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/plantlife-saving-species-publications.html)
- Coulthard, N D (2001) Important Bird Areas in Algeria; Eritrea; Senegal: 3 book chapters In: Fishpool, LDC & Evans, ME (eds.) Important Bird Areas in Africa and associated islands: Priority sites for conservation. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK. (http://www.naturebureau.co.uk/shop/books/birdareasofafrica.html)
Other skills and interests
I'm a fluent French speaker (English is my first language). I'm a keen outdoor sports enthusiast: horse riding, (sea) kayaking, cross-country skiing, hill running and adventure racing. Scottish Kayak Slalom Team 1979, 1980 (Scottish Champion in 1979). I met my husband, Bill, through Canoe Slalom competition and have two young children who are both developing their own love of nature and outdoor adventure.
See my biography.