Chevening Scholars

Karen Wanfei Qiu

I am interested in conservation with a keen focus on the marine environment. I grew up in China and earned my Bsc (in Environmental Science) and MPhil (in Marine Biology) both from the University of Hong Kong. At UNEP-WCMC I am working on a project entitled Fishery Regulations in the Asia-Pacific Region.

In the past 10 months I reviewed national-level fishery legislations in 38 countries/territories and also conducted a questionnaire survey on the management and regulations of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the region. The project has come to a conclusion now and I am working on the final report and database, which will help regional policy makers formulate recommendations and draft new legislation for the protection of vulnerable species and promote the sustainable livelihood of fishermen in the region.

I see conservation as an integrated approach to protect biodiversity and deliver long-term benefits to the society by contributing to sustainable development. Therefore my career goal is to become a conservationist capable of working across disciplines (e.g., biology, socio-economic, policy etc) and with different sectors (government, NGOs, local communities etc). UNEP-WCMC is a great place to start such a career.

In my next step I will conduct a 3-year PhD study at the University College London (UCL), on the policy and governance of marine protected areas in Asia. I am looking forward to the opportunity to interview and interact with a range of stakeholders including government officials and local communities, and to work on the interface between conservation science and policy.