Dr. Dick Watling is Principal and Founder of Environmental Consultants (Fiji) Ltd., Fiji's sole specialist and independent environmental consultancy practice. In this capacity his 19 years of consultancy experience encompasses a very broad range of environmental and conservation planning and management in Pacific Island Countries and South East Asia. He has worked for many of the significant multilateral agencies including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, FAO, UNEP, SPREP, SPC, UNOPS, UNDP, IUCN and the European Union.

Dr. Watling's specialist expertise in tropical forest and terrestrial vertebrate studies has formed the basis of extensive work experience in South East Asia in conservation and protected area management. In addition, this experience includes environmental policy formulation, environmental management guidelines and impact assessment of development projects. A resident of Fiji since childhood, Dr Watling is an internationally acknowledged authority on Fiji’s birds and terrestrial wildlife. He has published four books and over 25 scientific papers.

Dr. Watling has been involved in wide-ranging capacity building for environmental management including policy formulation, environmental assessment guidelines, institutional strengthening and training programmes.

In his roles as Principal of Environment Consultants Fiji, an independent consultant and formerly as Environment Group Manager with T&T Konsult Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia, Dr. Watling has undertaken or managed a wide variety of studies for private, government, bilateral and multilateral clients. These include EIAs of mining, quarrying, logging, coastal resorts, marina, thermal power, industrial and road construction projects; natural resource surveys; environmental management plans and environmental audits; emergency response plans, protected area management plans; ecotourism development studies; project formulation and project review and project management. Dr Watling is a lead assessor with SmartWood for forest management certification, with experience in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.