An Interview with a Species Reintroduction Officer
This is an interview with Katiana Saleiko, a Species Reintroduction Officer at Forestry England.
Please provide an overview of your role and your core duties
I am a Species Reintroduction Officer for Forestry England, covering our South District (Dorset, Hampshire, South Wiltshire, Berkshire, Isle of Wight, West Sussex and Surrey). In my role I lead or assist on a wide range of species projects revolving around particular conservation translocations, such as white-tailed eagles, beavers, ladybird spider and marsh clubmoss (spoiler it’s not a species of moss). Within these projects I may be undertaking background research on the species, doing stakeholder engagement or practically monitoring species that have already been released.
Who do you work alongside?
The majority of my work is undertaken alongside national or local experts, allowing me to gain in depth knowledge of the species I wish to work on. Within Forestry England it is important to have an open dialogue with the local and national team to ensure we are all on the same page and have the same goals when it comes to nature restoration. Lastly, if a project is to be progressed engagement with stakeholders, that be local interest groups or land owners/managers, is extremely important.
What inspired you into a career in conservation?
I know it’s cliché but I always wanted to work with animals, yet I didn’t know how. I think I was in secondary school when I came across the phrase ‘human-wildlife conflict’ and from that point on I knew I needed to help preserve and protect species from extinction in any way I could.
What steps did you take to get to where you are in your career?
I have a very long list of jobs and volunteer posts that I have taken over the years, even unrelated jobs to just get money, but you don’t necessarily need to do what I did to get to where I am now, every route is different. I have a BSc in Zoology and MSc in Biodiversity and Conservation, which I did five years apart. And the roles I have done since my undergraduate include: working in several different countries with species like Asian small-clawed otter, whale sharks, short-finned pilot whales, the Mauritius kestrel, corncrake and ground nesting birds. Some of these roles were voluntary and others were paid, similarly they weren’t all conservation translocation based. I have undertaken species monitoring roles alongside public engagement and was lucky enough to ‘fall’ into a role revolving around species reintroduction.
What advice would you give to others who aspire to have a career like yours?
My biggest word of advice to anyone trying to get into conservation is ‘take every opportunity given to you’ and ‘ask to be involved’. I have been lucky enough to be offered certain things within my career and by taking them or asking to do them has proven my interest and keenness to succeed. Likewise, networking has helped me so much. If you are able to network with as many people as possible in your field of interest, the more opportunities will arise and the more you will hear about what is happening in the background. I know it may feel scary at first but it pays off.
Did you face any challenges in your career journey and if so, how did you overcome them?
Not being taken seriously as the only female on the team or it being assumed I was the student due to my age and not the person actually leading the project. I am a quite shy and nervous person so it felt difficult to speak up at the time, but I was able to prove myself as time progressed. I was lucky to have support around me from my peers and colleagues; and now within my current role the narrative has definitely changed, with being more confident in myself and having the freedom to explore new avenues.
What words of inspiration might you have for someone considering a career in conservation?
Never give up in what you believe in – if you’re passionate about it, the opportunities will come. Always ALWAYS take a chance and do that thing if you think it will be beneficial in the future, even if it doesn’t feel right at the time.