Company Brochure
Company Brochure
Face behind Bioconserve

Sonya Benjamin
Founder & Executive Director

Face behind Bioconserve

Sonya Benjamin
Founder & Executive Director

I have always taken a pragmatic approach to integrating ecological protection within project development. Meanwhile, BioConserve’s directive is to support clients in achieving balance between biodiversity targets and business realities. This ethos is what drives BioConserve to provide practical solutions and services to clients who want to do the right thing, but not at the expense of the sustainability and success of their current operations and future goals.

It's been a journey

It’s been a journey  to reach the place I am now, but each step of the way has given me the tools I need to steer BioConserve onwards and upwards towards (and maybe beyond!) our aims and aspirations.
I understand people, and I understand ecosystems; and the only way forward for our collective future is to balance the needs of both.
MEET OUR TEAM
We’re ecosystem interpreters – translating scientific insights for balanced decision-making
Sheril-Principal-Ecologist

Sheril Thomas

Principal Ecologist 
Team Lead

Reptiles | Bat bioacoustics | Flora ID | Camera traps | Desert ecology

I like seeing how people, the environment, and biodiversity are interconnected, like instruments that can create a symphony if we work together.

My focus is on reptiles, bat bioacoustics, and flora IDs, and I love the moment a rare species turns up in a survey or camera trap image. In the field I’m the one keeping things calm, troubleshooting when something goes wrong, and making sure there are always snacks to keep us going.

I’ve grown to enjoy desert driving and discovered that storks regurgitate pellets, something I always thought was just a raptor or owl thing.
Lara - Consultant Ecologist

Lara Strydom

Consultant Ecologist
Field Survey Lead

Ornithology | Arid ecosystems | Field surveys | Habitat assessment | Ecological monitoring

I love the interconnectedness of ecology, how even the smallest thing plays into the bigger picture. Even mosquitoes (yes, I know they’re annoying) are an important food source that can link all the way up to an eagle. I’m one of the “bird ladies” at Bioconserve, working a lot in arid environments. Out in the field, I love when a site shifts from looking like “just another landscape” to revealing its secrets through tracks, plants, and bird calls. People know me for being reliable and planning fieldwork down to the last detail. Even on walks with my dog Flora, I catch myself cataloguing plants and picking routes that avoid thorns sticking to her paws.
Robert - Senior Ecologist

Robert Negru

Senior Ecologist
Corporate Biodiversity Strategy Lead

Conservation planning | Predator corridors | Wetland restoration | Biodiversity strategy | Data interpretation

I see biodiversity work as a way to bridge the gap between wild landscapes and practical conservation action, turning what we learn in the field into solutions that protect habitats and species. I’ve tracked Africa’s Top 5, mapped predator corridors in Finland’s boreal forests, and restored wetlands in the Danube Delta. I’m known for translating complex ecological data into strategies that work for nature, clients, and stakeholders, building trust with local communities and navigating relationships with diplomacy. While studying large carnivores, I got so used to reading animal tracks in snow that fresh prints still catch my eye instantly.
Nourhane - Junior Ecologist

Nourhane Kouche

Junior Ecologist
Marketing Coordinator

Baseline surveys | Renewable energy | Habitat mapping | Biodiversity awareness | Ecological assessments

Studying ecosystems feels like understanding where we come from and how much our well-being depends on them. I’ve found the middle ground I wanted, turning science into applied work that helps biodiversity and human progress move forward together, hand in hand. I get to support projects across different sectors, from renewable energy to ecological studies, and I’m still curious to learn every step of the way. I’m also the extrovert of the team, stepping into public roles to raise awareness and show why biodiversity matters. One project I feel especially connected to was once a dumping ground, but has been reclaimed by nature over time. Mapping its habitats and finding bird nests, bat roosts, and waterfowl reminded me that even disturbed places can come alive again, if we just allow nature the space to heal.
Selam-Junior-Ecologist - Bioconserve

Selam Gebreselassie

Junior Ecologist
Project Coordinator

Spatial ecology | Quantitative ecology | Invertebrates | Urban ecology | Habitat connectivity

I’ve always felt there are better ways to engage with nature. It doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game, which is why I like approaching ecology as a space for problem-solving. My doctoral research in urban ecology showed me how our surroundings shape both culture and our attitudes toward the natural world. Spatial and quantitative tools help me explore practical strategies for managing ecosystems in ways that work for people too. I’ve always had a soft spot for invertebrates, tiny, intricate, and underappreciated for the roles they play. I’ll stop every time I see a bug, just to figure out what species it might be and how it got there.
Iqtedar - Apprentice Ecologist

Iqtedar Ali

Junior Ecologist
Project Coordinator

Operations | Conservation | Climate action | Field ecology

Ecology isn’t just for specialists. I’ve always believed that when people understand the basics of conservation, change comes faster and their impact multiplies. My career actually started out in business operations within the sustainability sector. I was contributing to positive impact, but behind the scenes. Deep down, though, I always dreamed of working closer with nature. Volunteering in conservation and climate action gave me that chance, and over time it pulled me fully into this field. Now I get to bridge both worlds, supporting operations and field ecology. I never head into the field without a jar of peanut butter, it’s a great snack for me, and sometimes even bait for our live animal traps.
Over a decade ago, when I first moved to the Middle East, I struggled to find my place as an ecologist in the then-emerging markets of the GCC. Opportunities for actual biodiversity work were few and far between: a handful of conservation NGOs; a few government positions; a couple academic institutions running wildlife research projects.
In 2020, I recognized that there had been a shift in global and regional recognition of the importance of ecosystem conservation for the longevity not only of the biodiversity itself, but for society as a whole – which was reflected in the increased scrutiny around ecological impact and risk, and the cross-sector requirements for science-based yet practical biodiversity management solutions. Foreseeing this rise in demand, I began providing consulting and advisory services to trusted clients on a small scale, undertaking field surveys, reporting, and developing deliverables in alignment with IFC PS6. I opened official operations under the trade name, “Biosphere Conservation (BioConserve) Consulting Services”, but the one and only employee was myself.
By 2021, I had grown a roster of repeat clients, and the amount of work was more than one person could handle. A chance encounter brought Sheril, Principal Ecologist, and myself together at just the right time- and BioConserve as a true business was born.
We are now a thriving enterprise with a core team of incredibly skilled ecologists, each of us with several fields of specialization. We live, breathe, talk biodiversity – birds, bats, bugs; plants, wildlife, flowers, trees- you name it- we know it. Grounded in science, optimism, and integrity, we’re out to prove that a company can be impactful and successful, while still focusing on the people that make the business possible.
Five years in, and I am in awe at what has been achieved.
Here’s to the next five, and many more to follow.
Corporate Biodiversity
Strategy Development

Biodiversity Strategy Framework for a new entity set-up in KSA

BioConserve supported a client in developing and finalizing a programme-level Biodiversity Strategy Framework, which would set the structure for biodiversity risk management across the entities’ portfolio and operations.
Corporate Biodiversity
Strategy Development

Business Case Study for Integration of Nature and Biodiversity across the Real Estate Value Chain – in collaboration with Emirates Nature-WWF

BioConserve conducted desktop-based research and analysis to help develop the case for a large real estate developer in the UAE to integrate nature and biodiversity considerations across its value chain. This included a benchmark assessment of industry standards and best practices, and a summary review of typical nature-related risks and opportunities for real estate developers.
Corporate Biodiversity
Strategy Development

Impact Assessment and Advisory for Chalhoub Group Biodiversity Baseline & Strategy

BioConserve conducted a comprehensive Stage-1 LEAP baseline that mapped 950 stores and distribution hubs, screened leather-, cotton- and palm-supply chains for habitat risk and set a five-stage roadmap for nature-positive luxury retail across eight Middle East markets.
Renewable Energy &
Critical Infrastructure

Road Expansion Project in Khorzem, Republic of Uzbekistan

BioConserve developed a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) as well as Biodiversity Management and Monitoring Plans (BMP, BMEP) for a road expansion project. The scope of works included critical species requiring compensation and extensive mitigation efforts. This has been developed as per EBRD P.R. 6.
Renewable Energy &
Critical Infrastructure

NEOM Green Hydrogen Project in KSA

The NEOM Green Hydrogen Project involves the development of a hydrogen plant which is fully powered by green energy, sourced from a purpose-built wind power plant and solar photovoltaic plant. BioConserve undertook early-stage studies inclusive of the preparation of the Critical Habitat Assessment (CHA) and inputs into the scoping stage of the Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).
The scope furthermore included the preparation of biodiversity baseline and assessment inputs for the ESIA as well as the development of management plan frameworks and documentation for the implementation of biodiversity mitigation measures for each of the three project sub-components.
Renewable Energy &
Critical Infrastructure

Hatta Hydropower Plant (Hatta, UAE)

This project is a high-profile project with multiple complexities. The first of its kind in the region, the 250MW hydroelectric power plant will provide an alternative source of renewable energy as part of Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050. The project is located within the Hatta Mountain Conservation Area which was designated as a RAMSAR site. BioConserve provided advisory services relating to biodiversity restoration and compensation, as well as updating and finalizing the construction phase Compensation Plan to ensure protection of the ecosystem, wildlife and botanical features found in the area.
Renewable Energy &
Critical Infrastructure

445MW Bilasuvar Solar PV Project and 315MW Neftchala Solar PV Project in Azerbaijan

BioConserve supported the preparation of the Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) and Biodiversity Monitoring and Evaluation Programme for the development of two Photo Voltaic (PV) power plants by Masdar, a UAE-based renewable energy developer. In addition to preparing the management plans in alignment with IFC PS6, EBRD PR 6 and ADB Environmental Safeguards, BioConserve additionally is providing ongoing implementation support throughout the construction phase of the projects. This entails the preparation of construction phase checklists, reference documentation, templates, and delivering training to relevant personnel on site who will be carrying out requirements of the BMP. BioConserve is undertaking site visits and spot checks/internal audits to ensure the appropriate management and coordination is being undertaken throughout the construction phase.
Renewable Energy &
Critical Infrastructure

Bash 500 MW Wind Power Project in the Republic of Uzbekistan

BioConserve was the lead biodiversity consultant providing ecological advisory services for the developer’s team. The scope of work included inputs into Environmental Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) as well as development of the Critical Habitat Assessment (CHA), Biodiversity Management Plan(s), and Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) in line with international lender’s requirements (IFC, ADB, EBRD).
Key issues included collision risk management for birds and bats, as well as no net-loss and net-positive gain impacts on priority and critical species.
BioConserve supported the development of detailed management and monitoring programs, inclusive of relocation protocols, Shut-down on Demand (SDOD) and cut-in curtailment programs.
BioConserve provided in-depth advisory for the developer in determining the best mitigative approaches for identified biodiversity risks, taking into account CAPEX, OPEX and energy generation requirements throughout the financial disclosure process.
Nature-Based Solutions

Ecological Design Advisory

BREEAM Credit Review for Tilal Al Ghaf, UAE

BioConserve undertook the review of a masterplan including design and construction phases that were under consideration for BREEAM accreditation. The scope of works included a technical review of landscaping design and irrigation strategies.
Nature-Based Solutions

Ecological Design Advisory

Offshore Tourism Development, KSA

BioConserve supported as an external SME (Subject Matter Expert) providing advisory and review of an ESG programme initiative relating to integration of nature-based solutions into a proposed offshore development. Habitat offsetting, coastal protection, carbon capture and nature-positive targets were driving factors in this project.
Nature-Based Solutions

Ecological Design Advisory

Masterplan Design Competitions – UAE, KSA, and Togo

BioConserve has provided advisory services for urban planners and architects undertaking masterplanning in a number of design competitions. BioConserve provided feasible nature-based solutions and green infrastructure technical advisory support as well as pathway to permitting compliance and environmental constraints & opportunities analysis.
Specific locations are considered confidential, but five separate projects have been delivered to date, including projects in Taif, Buraydah, Riyadh, the western coastline of KSA, and the Gulf of Aqaba.
Within the UAE, BioConserve has provided support for masterplan visioning as well for locations in Al Ain and Jebel Ali.
BioConserve has supported the same architect with a similar set of services for the development of a World Bank funded project in the Togolese Republic (Togo).
Nature-Based Solutions

Ecological Design Advisory

Nature Based Solutions in MENA and SEA: Coastal Applications

BioConserve was a co-author on a white paper produced on coastal Nature-based solutions in the MENA and SEA regions. Coastal ecosystems were focused on, including the ability for mangrove, seagrass, coral and oyster reef ecosystems to provide climate adaptation and resiliency in addition to ecological enhancement of an area.
ECOLOGICAL STUDIES

Surveys, Analysis & Assessment

Habitat Restoration Project in Ras al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary

BioConserve has been appointed to carry out baseline surveys for terrestrial ecology and intertidal ecology components within the Ras al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary (RAKWS). This includes mangrove surveys, avifauna surveys, terrestrial ecology and flora surveying, bat monitoring, diurnal and nocturnal surveying, invertebrate surveying, mudskipper surveying, as well as general terrestrial ecological surveying to establish habitat coverage and wildlife communities present.

The proposed project will see the environmental rehabilitation and enhancement of the site to better support migratory bird populations that originally triggered the designation of the site as an important Ramsar wetland for migratory and wintering birds. BioConserve will carry out baseline surveys to establish the current existing conditions at the site prior to the start of major works on site. Further, BioConserve will provide implementation support throughout the construction phase, ensuring that on-site personnel are effectively trained and adhere to the Construction Environmental Control Plan and associated sub-management plans which are linked to biodiversity and ecological elements.
ECOLOGICAL STUDIES

Surveys, Analysis & Assessment

Sharaan Nature Reserve (Al Ula, KSA)

BioConserve undertook diurnal and nocturnal ecology baseline surveys, deployment and retrieval of acoustic bat recorders, and bat roost searches in the Sharaan Nature Reserve boundaries of Al Ula. Deliverables included a technical report outlining survey findings and results of acoustic data analysis, and served as input into a larger strategic environmental assessment.

ECOLOGICAL STUDIES

Surveys, Analysis & Assessment

Regional Cross-boundary Overhead Transmission Line (KSA & Region)

The client is developing a regional cross-boundary OHTL for power evacuation and exchange within the region. The original ecological survey performed for national permitting procedures was flagged as insufficient by the Lender’s Environmental Advisor and BioConserve was commissioned to re-survey the site for validation and added depth of information. Recommendations were provided which considered the proposed construction & operation measures & monitoring to ensure alignment with IFC P.S.6.

ECOLOGICAL STUDIES

Surveys, Analysis & Assessment

Meydan One Masterplan

BioConserve undertook avifauna monitoring for Meydan One masterplan which is located in proximity to the Ras Al Khor protected area / RAMSAR recognized wetlands. We prepared a collision risk assessment document to discuss the potential risks of high-rise buildings, taking into account flight paths, façade treatment and landscaping in the masterplan, and proposed mitigation and monitoring programs for the project.

ECOLOGICAL STUDIES

Surveys, Analysis & Assessment

Emirates Steel Arkan - Low Carbon Steel Hub in Abu Dhabi, UAE

BioConserve undertook Avifauna Surveys for a proposed Low Carbon Steel Hub project in an industrial area in Abu Dhabi. The activities for the development of the project included maintenance dredging throughout certain areas of the adjacent water channel, an area that had previously been dredged. The Avifauna Surveys were required as part of the ecological survey to inform the assessment of baseline and to be included as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), in accordance with EAD requirements. Although the majority of the project activities were planned to take place on the mainland and the canal off the shore, the study area also included an island off the shore of the mainland, directly opposite the proposed project site. Avifauna surveying included Vantage Point surveys using binoculars and a digital camera with a telephoto lens.

ECOLOGICAL STUDIES

Surveys, Analysis & Assessment

CCGT Power Plant Project in Al Nouf, Abu Dhabi, UAE

BioConserve undertook a terrestrial baseline survey and reporting for a proposed power plant in Al Nouf, Abu Dhabi. The scope of works included diurnal and nocturnal surveys, flora surveys using quadrats, and the deployment of Sherman traps. The development of a habitat map as well as detailing survey findings, identification of constraints and recommendations for suitable development were delivered in a technical report.

ECOLOGICAL STUDIES

Surveys, Analysis & Assessment

Ghaf Woods, Dubai, UAE

BioConserve undertook a terrestrial ecology survey to inform the EIA for the development project of Ghaf Woods. The scope of works included diurnal and nocturnal surveys, flora surveys using quadrats, deployment of camera traps, and sampling of bat acoustic data. The development of a habitat map as well as detailing survey findings, identification of constraints and recommendations for suitable development were delivered in a technical report.