My name is Tsyon Asfaw. I was born and raised in Adama town, Ethiopia. I attended primary and secondary school in Adama and started my college studies in 2008 at Mekelle University. I was able to obtain my B.Sc. degree from the department of Wildlife and Eco-Tourism Management, Mekelle, Ethiopia, in July 2011. During my B.Sc. study, I had a chance to work with large carnivores. Since 2011, I have been affiliated as a Graduate Assistant and Assistant Lecturer at Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources (WGCFNR). During my stay at college, I had been participating in different research activities with a special focus on birds and large carnivores; the results were published in reputable journals and in reports submitted to the university.

After three years research and teaching experience, I commenced and obtained my Master’s degree in Biodiversity Conservation and Management at WGCFNR in 2017. I worked on “Bird species diversity and habitat association in Gedeo Indigenous Multi-strata Agro-forestry Systems” as my M.Sc. thesis project and it was rated excellent. After my graduation, I successively promoted to academic rank of Lecturer based on my educational qualification upgrading. In this position, my main responsibilities was handling different courses; conducting wildlife conservation research project and community outreach. Particularly, I have been involved in bird research. I am also actively involving in community outreach programs that ensure sustainable conservation of wildlife resources by promoting livelihood benefits of wildlife conservation, such as eco-tourism. Particularly, I am involving in “Promoting the human and wildlife coexistence in a human dominated landscape of Wondo Genet Forest” and training local youth as tour guides; in support of this project, I am developing a photographic field guide-book to the common birds of Lake Hawassa.