Newcastle University

Esteem Indicators

Founding (1993) chair and co-chair (since August 2005) of the Pheasant Specialist Group, under the auspices of the IUCN (World Conservation Union) Species Survival Commission, BirdLife International (the IUCN Red List authority for all birds), and the World Pheasant Association (a UK based international conservation charity). The Pheasant SG is an expert international network of field biologists, zoo biologists, NGO staff, government officers active in work concerned with the conservation and sustainable use of the world’s 50pheasant species in their native ranges.

Co-compiler/editor of two Action Plans (1995, 2000) for pheasant conservation world wide, published by IUCN in an official series and used as an international prospectus of research priorities. Currently working on a third, likely to be the first 3rd edition produced by any Specialist Group.

At the last IUCN World Conservation Congress (November 2004) I was awarded a ‘Citation of Excellence’, being one of only five people to receive this accolade from a membership of 7,200 active conservationists in the IUCN Species Survival Commission.

Co-organiser, International Symposia on Galliformes in China (1989), Pakistan (1992), Malaysia (1997), Nepal (2000) and India (2004), each one of which produced a proceedings.

Visiting Professor, Hainan Normal University (February 2005) in recognition of technical assistance to field ornithology projects in China since 1989.

Chair (since 1993), Newcastle University Expeditions Committee (formerly Exploration Council), which oversees, endorses and part-funds student research expeditions on an annual basis. The results are featured in an annual Public Lecture in the university series (Insights).

Member, Royal Geographical Society expeditions grant screening panels (2003-05).

• Deng W-H, Zheng G-M, Zhang Z-W, Garson PJ, McGowan PJK. Providing artificial nest platforms for Cabot's tragopan Tragopan caboti (Aves: Galliformes): A useful conservation tool?. Oryx 2005, 39(2), 158-163.
• Gurnell J, Lurz PWW, Shirley MDF, Cartmel S, Garson PJ, Magris L, Steele JW. Monitoring red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris and grey squirrels Sciurus carolinensis in Britain. Mammal Review 2004, 34(1-2), 51-74.
• Fuller RA, McGowan PJK, Carroll JP, Dekker RWRJ, Garson PJ. What does IUCN species action planning contribute to the conservation process?. Biological Conservation 2003, 112(3), 343-349.
• Garson PJ. Fowls and Pheasants (Phasianidae). In: Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, Volume 8: Birds I. Michigan, USA: Gale Group, 2002, pp.433-453.
• Arshad M, Garson PJ, Ahmad A. Sustainable trophy hunting and the conservation of alpine ungulates in Pakistan. Pirineos 2002, (157), 151-168.
• McGowan PJK, Garson PJ. The Galliformes are highly threatened: Should we care?. Oryx 2002, 36(4), 311-312.
• Lurz PWW, Garson PJ, Wauters L. Effects of temporal and spatial variations in food supply on the space and habitat use of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris L.). Journal of Zoology 2000, 251(2), 167-178.
• Lurz PWW, Garson PJ, Ogilvie J. Conifer species mixtures, cone crops and red squirrel conservation. Forestry 1998, 71(1), 67-71.
• McGowan P, Dekker RWRJ, Dowell S, Garson P. The making of conservation Action Plans for the Galliformes. Bird Conservation International 1998, 8(2), 173-184.
• Lurz PWW, Garson PJ, Wauters L. Effects of temporal and spatial variation in habitat quality on red squirrel dispersal behaviour. Animal Behaviour 1997, 54(2), 427-435.
• Rushton SP, Lurz PWW, Fuller R, Garson PJ. Modelling the distribution of the red and grey squirrel at the landscape scale: A combined GIS and population dynamics approach. Journal of Applied Ecology 1997, 34(5), 1137-1154.