Richard Baines PGdip MCIEEM is an experienced ornithologist/ecologist who has been employed in Nature Conservation/Environmental Management for 40 years, 20 of which have been in ecological consultancy.
Qualifications
Professional Membership
Richard has been studying birds for over 40 years; from recording UK migrants at Flamborough to monitoring Siberian migrants in China, he has become highly experienced in bird identification and ecology. His extensive survey experience includes a five-year project leading a team of ornithologists conducting Vantage Point Surveys and Wader surveys in four industrial ports on the Humber Estuary for Associated British Ports (ABP), and Breeding Wader Surveys for the North York Moors National Park Authority (NYMNA)
In the past 20 years he has conducted avian surveys on over 150 sites throughout the UK, including over 20 wind farm surveys from the north of England to Caithness and the Western Isles. These have involved vantage point, upland breeding bird and species-specific raptor and diver surveys. Richard has also managed 30 environmental survey baseline projects and held Schedule 1 licences (Scottish Natural Heritage and Natural England) for a range of species including Black-throated Diver, Golden Eagle, Peregrine, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Barn Owl and Little Ringed Plover.
Richard’s wide-ranging experience of working with farmers, landowners and community councils has enabled him to utilise his people skills and experience in negotiation and management, and bring his liaison skills to his consultancy work.
In 2010, Wold Ecology carried out a unique contract for the Environment Agency and Natural England aimed at monitoring seabird bycatch and liaising directly with the fishermen in Filey Bay. This highly sensitive project required the use of complex diplomatic skills and discretionary working relationships.
Through his previous employment Richard has gained enormous experience in project management, environmental assessment and setting up Countryside Stewardship partnerships through government grant applications. Since HLS/ELS started, he has completed 115 schemes in six counties. Richard has been instrumental in raising in excess of £300,000 for environmental projects in East Yorkshire since 2006.