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• Assessing Critical Habitats Using Environmental DNA to Conserve the World’s Rarest Heron- White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis

The White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) is the world's rarest heron, with only about 60 individuals remaining globally. Bhutan holds nearly half of the remaining population, making conservation efforts within the country crucial to the species' survival. As part of my PhD research at Texas State University, I have been working to better understand the ecology, habitat suitability, and conservation needs of this critically endangered species. I employ an interdisciplinary approach that integrates field ecology, environmental DNA (eDNA) and portable genomics technologies to improve biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning for White-bellied Heron in Bhutan. Unlike traditional monitoring approaches that rely solely on direct observations, eDNA allows researchers to detect biodiversity from traces of genetic material left behind in the environment. The WILDLABS Award provided an exciting opportunity not only to advance research but also to demonstrate how emerging conservation technologies can be applied in remote landscapes while building local capacity for conservation genetics. Through this project, we sought to explore how portable molecular tools can support conservation decision-making while making advanced genetic technologies more accessible to researchers and practitioners in Bhutan.