The man who camped in a tropical forest for his job

Professor Jon Lovett, a botanist whose work in eastern Tanzania has led to eight plant species being named after him, recounted a pivotal moment during his time camping in a tropical forest. "It was pouring down with rain most days. Everything was wet, there was mould in my boots and I was feeling a little bit miserable," he recalled. "Then this shaft of sunlight came through the forest canopy and there was a patch of sun where one of these mycotrophs was growing. I thought, 'this is a new species'."

This discovery occurred in 1997, while Lovett was living in a tent in the Tanzanian forests during the rainy season, conducting an environmental survey. The plant, a mycotroph that feeds on fungi, was officially confirmed as a new and critically endangered species in June, nearly three decades after its initial sighting. Named 'Afrothismia lovettii' in his honor, it marks the eighth plant species to bear his name, a testament to his botanical research in eastern Tanzania since 1979.

Now a faculty member at the University of Leeds and based in Swaledale, Lovett's professional life included extended periods in the tropical forest, notably a two-year stint in the 1980s. Despite having a guide and access to supplies from a nearby village, the closest city, Morogoro, was "several hundred kilometres away" by his estimation. His frequent companions were the forest's wildlife, including elephants and buffalo. "You were always surrounded by large animals," he explained. "You couldn't see them because the forest vegetation is quite thick but you could hear them moving around."

The forest also harbored snakes, large colonies of "eating everything in their way" driver ants, and scorpions that would ambush prey from trees. Despite these hazards, Lovett maintained that the rainforest, once acclimatized to, is "no more hazardous than trying to cross the road in busy traffic." He described the job as "tough" at times but emphasized that he "really enjoyed it and the real sense of becoming one with this incredibly biodiverse, rich environment."

Following his discovery of 'Afrothismia lovettii', Lovett sent the specimen to Dr. Martin Cheek, a tropical African plant expert at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, for further study. The mycotroph, roughly the size of a penny, features a translucent, golden yellow base with white antennae. After nearly three decades of researching other Afrothismia species across Africa, Dr. Cheek was able to confirm its novelty to science. The seven other plant species attributed to Lovett's discoveries include two trees, a liana, a shrub, an orchid, and two additional mycotrophs. His extensive work has also played a role in the area being recognized as one of the world's top biodiversity hotspots, crucial for conservation efforts.

Lovett acknowledges the "tensions between conservation and development" but stresses the necessity of collaboration among campaigners, researchers, and policymakers "to end biodiversity loss and repair our world." He stated, "It's a matter of working hand-in-hand to ensure these incredible natural resources survive, and the benefits are coming down to the local communities."

Although Lovett's current research focus has shifted from botany to renewable energy, his work has continued to bring him back to Tanzania over the years. His upcoming trip involves visiting an area of the Ngezi Forest threatened by expansion, where he aims to promote the "unique nature" of the landscape to aid in its protection. He admits to missing aspects of his forest life "every day."

Near his home in the Yorkshire Dales lies Muker Meadows, an area of upland hay meadows protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Northern Pennine Dales Meadows Special Area of Conservation (SAC). An early riser, Lovett often takes morning walks there, finding solace in its rich flora and fauna. "It just reminds me of a time when I would be in the forest in the early morning when everything was quiet and the birds and the wildlife were beginning to stir," he reflected. "It becomes very much part of you when you live in the forest for that long."