A young filmmaker who created films about nature recovery and sustainable farming in the New Forest National Park has swapped Hampshire’s heaths for the tropical rainforests of Borneo.
Charlotte Gresham, from Romsey, has secured a coveted position with the Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) as an Orangutan Behaviour Research Assistant. The role is based in Sebangau National Park, Central Kalimantan, working within the world’s longest-running continuous conservation research project focused on Southern Bornean orangutans.
Charlotte, a passionate conservationist with a first-class honours degree in Zoology from the University of Sussex, has already built a strong foundation in fieldwork, specialising in animal behaviour and rainforest restoration. Last year she applied her talents locally by delivering a series of short films for the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA), helping to promote the benefits of sustainable farming practices under the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FIPL) scheme. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) programme is managed locally by the NPA. Charlotte filmed farmers who have successfully applied for grants from almost £ 1 million of funds to improve the natural environment, cultural heritage and public access, and made farms more resilient and fit for the future.
Charlotte said: ‘This is a dream come true. I’m incredibly excited to start this new chapter, and I’m so grateful to the FiPL team at the New Forest National Park Authority for the opportunities and experiences they gave me. The skills I developed through that work will be invaluable as I take this next step in conservation and communications.’
Charlotte is based at BNF’s remote research station in the heart of the Sebangau peat swamp forest, where she is expected to remain for a year or longer. Her work will cover a variety of research areas, including orangutan behaviour, health, seed dispersal, and movement patterns.
Her primary focus is on feeding ecology – investigating how orangutans self-medicate and their use of medicinal plants. The findings will contribute to ongoing efforts to understand and protect this critically endangered species.
Paul Walton, Head of Environment and Rural Economy for the New Forest National Park Authority, said: ‘We are all so excited for Charlotte and thank her for her great work highlighting the successes of the FiPL scheme in driving nature recovery in the internationally important New Forest landscape. The Borneo Nature Foundation’s work is internationally recognised for its impact on primate conservation and tropical forest research. For Charlotte, the opportunity marks the next chapter in what promises to be a remarkable conservation career.’
Image credit: Charlotte Gresham/Borneo Nature Foundation
