Conservation Planning

Dr. Gautam Surya

Dr. Gautam Surya has worked as a Conservation Planning Scientist with WCS since 2018. During that time, he has worked on a variety of projects related to climate adaptation, conservation prioritization, land use planning, and the effects of climate change on species and ecology. His projects have included understanding the climate vulnerabilities of ecosystems, species and communities in Northeast Afghanistan and Belize; land-use planning for a buffer area around a national park in Cameroon; and developing a tool to calculate potential livelihood and biodiversity benefits for climate mitigation projects in Southeast Asia. Prior to joining WCS, Gautam completed his BA in mathematics and biology at Tufts University. Subsequently, he completed his PhD at the University of Texas (Austin), where his research focused on the evolutionary ecology and conservation of breeding birds in the eastern Indian Himalayas. In addition to his scientific work, Gautam has extensive experience with both formal and informal science education and outreach.