SAERI has recently secured funding for a suite of new research projects that will strengthen environmental monitoring, conservation science and evidence-based management across the Falkland Islands and the wider South Atlantic.
The new projects span terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems, reflecting SAERI's commitment to delivering high-quality science that addresses local priorities while contributing to international research and conservation. While the projects themselves are diverse, they are all united by four fundamental questions that underpin effective environmental management:
Projects include delivering the first Southern Rockhopper Penguin census in more than 15 years using drones and artificial intelligence, tracking the movements of giant petrels, sooty shearwaters and the globally threatened White-chinned Petrel, monitoring feral goats to better understand their distribution and abundance, and using modern genomic techniques to assess the genetic health of the endemic Cobb's Wren. Other initiatives include mapping seabed habitats within the proposed Falkland Islands Marine Managed Areas to identify and protect Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, assessing freshwater and peatland ecosystems under a changing climate, and developing advanced GIS-based land classification tools to support environmental planning and management.
Together, these projects will improve our understanding of the Falklands' biodiversity, habitats and ecosystems, helping to identify emerging threats, measure environmental change and provide the evidence needed to support practical conservation and sustainable natural resource management.
These projects are being delivered in partnership with organisations across the UK, Europe, Australia and the USA and will strengthen long-term scientific capability within the Falkland Islands.
July also marked Farmers Week, providing a timely reminder that none of this work happens in isolation. Every project relies on strong partnerships, and we would particularly like to thank the Falkland Islands farming community. Your willingness to provide access to land, share local knowledge and expertise, and support fieldwork is fundamental to the success of our research. Without your continued support, much of this work simply would not be possible. We look forward to sharing updates, fieldwork highlights and project results over the coming months.
