Simon Valle

Dr. Simon Valle is an Honorary Lecturer in the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences at Bangor University, where he serves as course director for the Environmental Conservation and Applied Terrestrial and Marine Ecology programs. He is also a Single-species Conservation Planning Officer with the IUCN Conservation Planning Specialist Group, contributing to global conservation strategies for threatened species. His academic background includes a PhD from Manchester Metropolitan University, an MSc from the University of Exeter, and a BSc from the University of Rome 'La Sapienza'.

His research expertise lies in conservation ecology, population biology, and wildlife monitoring, with a particular focus on avian species in the Afrotropics and island ecosystems. He specializes in population viability analysis, methods for estimating animal abundance (including innovative use of camera traps), and conservation planning for endangered birds such as parrots and red squirrels.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend in developing practical, cost-effective monitoring methodologies for conservation, assessing extinction risks from climate change and disease, and contributing to international action plans for critically endangered species. His work spans tropical and temperate ecosystems, with field research conducted in West Africa, the Gulf of Guinea, and the UK.

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2021)
• Dean's Commendation for MSc Conservation & Biodiversity, University of Exeter (2011)
• PhD Scholarship from Manchester Metropolitan University (£36,000)
• Postgraduate Scholarship from University La Sapienza of Rome (€14,400)

Dr. Valle has supervised postgraduate projects and is accepting PhD students. He has served as an external examiner for the Durrell Conservation Academy and is an active member of the IUCN Conservation Planning Specialist Group. His work significantly contributes to conservation practice, policy development, and capacity building in biodiversity monitoring and management.