Mike has a supreme understanding of the relationship between humans and nature and how they all fit into the giant puzzle together. His formal education has been environmentally based and his working life has helped a parastatal organisation like the forestry commission of Zimbabwe to holistically manage over 1.5 million hectares of forest. Being part of the commercial safari industry also gave him the experience how responsible tourism can perpetuate the sustenance of wildlife and human alike.
The seed for planning future environmental consultancy work was planted in June 1999. Mike was asked to take care of 14 Scientists on a 3 week field collecting trip in the remote Zambezi delta, Mozambique. The challenges were great and the results were invaluable. This was the first all encompassing field collecting trip ever carried out.
Since then Mike continued to build on his field experience running his own walking safaris. In April 2007 he was invited to make a field assessment of the human / elephant conflict in North Bengal, India. As a follow up Mike plans to implement African solutions in the Asian model in a far reaching project. This will encompass not only India but all the neighbouring countries, which are also affected by the demands on natural resources.
During the 2008 season Mike will be helping 2 different research groups to reach remote locations. Mike will help with field logistics, planning and safety , which gives the researchers time to get on with the job at hand no matter how isolated the location is.
Gary Haynes is continuing his Archeological research in Hwange Park. http://www.unr.edu/cla/anthro/haynes.htm
Olivier Pascal from Pro Natura in North Mozambique, Coastal dry forests. www.pronatura.org/fr
