Opwall Field Notes Podcast: Entry 12 - Toby Farman

Opwall's Field Notes - a podcast from Operation Wallacea 🌎 Entry 12!
Toby Farman is Opwall’s Systems Manager and the Country Manager for our Romania expeditions. Toby originally studied biotechnology, but an Opwall trip in 2007 sparked his passion for travel. After graduating, Toby travelled the world for 2 years with nothing more than a backpack. Rather than settle down upon his return, Toby began working for Opwall and went on to manage projects in Mozambique, South Africa, and now Transylvania.
For over 25 years, Operation Wallacea has been running biodiversity research expeditions across the globe. We’ve gathered a lot of stories along the way, showing how conservation research builds communities, inspires change and tackles the biggest threats to our natural world.
Join us while we interview researchers, local organizers, and community conservationists about new research, protecting biodiversity, and daily life out in the field.
Episode Outline:
[0.43] Toby’s background
[2.29] How Toby got involved with Opwall
[6.20] Some lessons from Toby’s world travels
[8.58] Toby explains the transition from managing the South Africa project to the Transylvania project
[10.01] An introduction to the Transylvania expedition and the research being done there
[17.08] Why are the traditional agricultural practices of Transylvania so good for biodiversity?
[22.12] The bears of Transylvania
[24.48] What lessons can other countries learn from Transylvania about increasing biodiversity or protecting wildlife?
[26.41] Toby’s favourite part about working in the field
[28.36] Some of the challenges of field work
[30.32] What is the craziest thing Toby has seen in the field?
[32.45] Toby’s advice for someone starting a career in conservation
[34.06] What keeps Toby fighting to protect biodiversity?
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Field Courses: www.opwall.com/field-courses/
Online Work Experience Internships: www.opwall.com/schools/educat...
School Expeditions: www.opwall.com/schools/
School Field Courses: www.opwall.com/field-courses/
About Operation Wallacea
Operation Wallacea is a biodiversity research organisation with study sites and research project all over the world. We collect wildlife, ecology, and biodiversity monitoring data that we use to inform and create wildlife conservation management strategies.
We are joined on our expeditions by Research Assistants, Dissertation/Thesis University Students, and teachers leading school trips. We also offer online work experience internships, field courses, and online field courses.