REC Lab

I am a conservation biologist and restoration ecologist focused on better understanding the interactions between wildlife and people.  I do this work in natural landscapes, but also in human-dominated systems like farms and cities, which I see as critical frontiers in wildlife conservation. My hope is to provide applied science that supports species conservation, sustainable farms, and vibrant cities.
 
My students and I take a systems-thinking approach to these topics, mixing methods from different branches of biology and from other disciplines. We are unashamedly applied in our approach- tackling problems that need strong science to inform management decisions. This means we often work in collaboration with iwi, government, land managers, community groups, and industry.
 
We've done this work in truly wild places such as NZ's alpine ecosystems, the Canadian Arctic, and the Pacific Ocean; as well as some of the most altered landscapes on the planet such as intensive farms in California's central valley and the Canterbury Plains, New York City, and Christchurch. 

I am also committed to education/outreach and welcome enquiries from teachers- get in touch if your class is interested in any of these topics!

Research interests include:

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  - Reversing the decline of New Zealand's Biological Heritage
  - The interface between Mātauranga Māori (indigenous Māori knowledge), Environmental Science, Technological Innovation, and Commercialisation.
  - The role of indigenous knowledge systems in helping humanity cope with emerging ‘wicked’ problems, such as climate change.
  - Creating new technologies and processes, from Mātauranga Māori, that benefit Mātauranga holders and their whānau, Industry, and the wider NZ community, in a manner that is respectful of and maintains the integrity of that Mātauranga.
  - Implementation of science that is excellent from a Māori perspective, i.e. science that supports Māori to be better ancestors.
  - The development of social structures and processes that allow Māori communities and organisations to work effectively within collaborative technical and scientific contexts.

Dr Maia Raymundo is a conservation ecologist and Lecturer in the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Canterbury. Her research focuses on how ecological communities respond to environmental change, with particular emphasis on invasion ecology, restoration ecology, and community assembly across terrestrial ecosystems. She works at the interface of biodiversity conservation, species interactions, and ecosystem resilience, using field ecology, spatial analysis, and quantitative modelling to understand how anthropogenic pressures shape ecosystems.