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Company Brochure
Face behind Bioconserve

Sonya Benjamin - Senior Principal Ecologist

Face behind Bioconserve

Sonya Benjamin - Senior Principal Ecologist

I founded BioConserve to support clients in achieving balance between biodiversity targets and their business realities. I have always taken a holistic and pragmatic approach to integrating ecological protection within project development, and this same ethos is what now 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.
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. Forseeing 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.
We’re a group of passionate experts raising the bar for what biodiversity work can achieve; our approach is grounded in science, optimism, and integrity.
Small wins, done right, can build a future that honours both the world we live in and the people within them.
We understand people, and we 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 

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

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

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

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

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

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.