Resit Sozer

Resit Sözer is an expert in tropical ecology and wildlife management, with more than 25 years of experience in Indonesia, mainly in the areas of biodiversity research, wildlife trade surveys, wildlife rescue center management, network coordinating, conservation breeding, wildlife handling, rehabilitation and release of wildlife, wildlife-human conflict mitigation, High Conservation Value Area assessment and management project financing, and policy and regulation working with both the public sector as well as the Indonesian government. In 1994 Resit started out in Indonesia while he was still a student, conducting research on the elusive Javan Hawk-eagle, and for several years conducting similar research on Java, Sumatra and in Kalimantan. In 2001 he set up the Cikananga Wildlife Rescue Center in West Java; one of the largest wild animal rescue centers worldwide. During the management of this center, he initiated many rehabilitation and release programs for different species of mammals, birds and reptiles. In 2008 Resit became involved in the High Conservation Value area assessment consultancy work. This work was controversial in a way that it concerned mainly assessments of Oil Palm Plantations, which are generally considered to be destructive to nature and wildlife. After some experience, this work proved to be a highly effective manner to preserve the remaining areas with conservation value, and protect wildlife from extinction by implementation of area- species management. At present Resit is still running the Cikananga Wildlife Rescue Center in Sukabumi, and carrying out HCV assessments as an Associate of Aksenta Socio-enviro Enterpreneurship in Jakarta.