Lucy

Kemp

My main interest is how to take sound scientific evidence and use that to formulate on-the-ground conservation action, that considers socio-economic realities, cultural sensitivities and conservation biology. I have been privileged to work on conservation projects in both Namibia and South Africa: black rhino, wild dog, cheetah, high value plants species, community-based natural resource management and food security for communities living in national parks. My greatest need is to be in wild places and so I see it as my duty to do all I can to help keep wild places wild.  

I joined the project in 2010 because Southern Ground-Hornbills have always been a part of my life as my parents, Alan and Meg Kemp, did much of the early research on the species in Kruger National Park, and so my childhood was filled with extremely early, but breath-taking, mornings out looking for groups, and helping to locate nests. There I developed my love of the wild.

Now as a professional conservation biologist I feel that this flagship species is an excellent candidate for testing conservation tools, and connecting people throughout South Africa through a common conservation interest, and growing love for this icon of our savannahs.

Locally, I am the director of the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project, at a continental level I am  a Women for the Environment in Africa leadership fellow, and co-chair for Africa for the IUCN SSC Hornbill Specilaist Group, and at a global level I am an IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group Facilitator.