Tsyon Asfaw

Profile

I am a conservation scientist and Ph.D. student in the Department of Biology at the University of Antwerp, and a research fellow at the School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, affiliated with the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI).

My current project, titled ‘Biodiversity Potential for Resilient Livelihoods in the Lower Omo, Ethiopia,’ aims to fill critical knowledge gaps on how biodiversity contributes to livelihood security, climate adaptation, and resilience in the newly established Tama Community Conservation Area (CCA), in the lower Omo-Valley, Ethiopia. My role centres on ethnozoological research, combining traditional ecological knowledge with systematic biodiversity monitoring. The resulting datasets will inform population and climate models to explore future biodiversity conservation strategies.

I hold a Postgraduate Diploma in International Wildlife Conservation Practice from the University of Oxford (WildCRU); an M.Sc. in Biodiversity Conservation and Management from Hawassa University and a BSc. In Wildlife and Ecotourism Management from Mekelle University. I have over a decade of experience in field-based research, teaching, community engagement, and project coordination, with a particular focus on Biodiversity monitoring, large carnivore ecology, human-wildlife coexistence, avian studies, and community-based conservation.

Previously, I served as an Associate Researcher and Field Coordinator for a national large carnivore survey in Ethiopia, contributing critical data for conservation planning and protected area management. I have also served Hawassa University, as a Lecturer for over ten years.

I am an active science communicator and mentor, and have authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and presented at numerous international conferences. My research has been supported by leading organisations, including Panthera, the National Geographic Society, the International Foundation for Science, and the AFD-GDN Biodiversity and Development Awards. I also serve as a board member of Dinkenesh Ethiopia Conservation and am a member of the Ethiopian Forestry Society.

Research interests

My research lies at the intersection of biodiversity conservation, traditional ecological knowledge, and sustainable livelihoods, with a particular focus on human–wildlife interactions in complex socio-ecological landscapes. I am especially interested in how local knowledge systems and ecological monitoring can be integrated to inform conservation practice and policy in data-limited regions.

Currently, my research project at Sustainability Research Institute in the School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, focuses on ethnozoological inquiry within the project ‘Biodiversity Potential for Resilient Livelihoods in the Lower Omo, Ethiopia.’ This transdisciplinary project seeks to understand how biodiversity contributes to climate adaptation, livelihood security, and resilience in the newly established Tama Community Conservation Area (CCA). My role involves combining systematic biodiversity monitoring with qualitative, community-based ethnozoological research to identify key species and ecosystem services valued by local communities. The knowledge generated will feed into population models and climate projections to explore future scenarios of biodiversity and its implications for livelihoods.

In parallel, my doctoral work at the University of Antwerp examines large carnivore ecology and conservation in the Omo Valley of southwest Ethiopia. This research investigates how environmental and anthropogenic factors, including land use change, proximity to protected areas, and community attitudes, shape species occupancy, distribution, and conflict dynamics.

One of the emerging themes in my research is landscape connectivity, understanding how spatial configuration, habitat fragmentation, and ecological corridors affect the movement and persistence of wide-ranging species such as lions. This work is especially relevant for designing conservation strategies that extend beyond protected area boundaries.

Across my academic and field-based research experience, I have developed a strong interest in community-based conservation, particularly approaches that integrate local knowledge and participation into biodiversity monitoring and management. I view human–wildlife coexistence not only as an ecological issue but also as a social and cultural challenge that demands transdisciplinary approaches.

My long-term goal is to contribute to conservation science that is both ecologically robust and socially inclusive, building knowledge systems that support biodiversity, empower local communities, and promote resilience in the face of environmental change.

Qualifications

• P.G.Dip. in International Wildlife Conservation Practice from University of Oxford, UK
• MSc. in Biodiversity Conservation and Management, Hawassa University, Ethiopia
• B.Sc. in Wildlife and Ecotourism Management, from Mekelle University, Ethiopia

Professional memberships

• Ethiopian Forestry Society
• Dinkinesh Ethiopia