I am a PhD researcher at the University of Edinburgh and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. My research explores the socio-ecological dynamics of fire in the central highlands of Madagascar.

I focus on fire in tapia woodlands. Tapia woodlands are open-canopy woodlands dominated by squat trees that possess a range of impressive adaptations to frequent fire. The most obvious feature is tapia’s bark that resembles crocodile-skin and is spongey to the touch. However, the topic of fire is controversial in Madagascar due to fire’s perceived negative effects; these have led to tree planting and fire suppression policies, which threaten the future of tapia. Through my PhD, I aim to develop an understanding of how fire maintains biodiversity and supports local livelihoods. To do so, I use a mixture of natural and social science methods to examine the interactions between the social role that fire plays in rural livelihoods and the ecological role of fire in tapia woodland function. Fire use is declining in the central highlands and it is vital to understand why this is happening and how this may influence fire-dependent vegetation.

I work in collaboration with a Malagasy NGO, Ny-Tanintsika, who seek to improve the lives of rural Malagasy communities whilst protecting the tapia woodlands. Ny-Tanintsika achieve this by supporting rural silk farming in tapia woodlands for sale to domestic and international visitors. Therefore, providing a financial incentive to protect tapia. My research will further the progress of this industry to support conservation and development in Madagascar.

Supervisors: Dr Caroline Lehmann (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh), Dr Sam Staddon (University of Edinburgh).