Harith Morgadinho Farooq

About me

I am a Mozambican macroecologist and conservation scientist working on extinction risk, conservation prioritisation, and inequalities in scientific research, with publications in journals including Science, PNAS, Current Biology, Nature Ecology & Evolution, and Conservation Biology. To date, I have authored 48 scientific publications, including 17 as lead and 6 as last author, with an H-index of 20 and more than 3,000 citations (May 8th, 2026). I am a lecturer and former Dean at Lúrio University, with postdoctoral experience at the Universities of Copenhagen and Gothenburg. Alongside research, I have contributed to postgraduate training, science communication, and the strengthening of biodiversity research capacity in Mozambique.

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My research

For more than 15 years, my work has combined biodiversity research, conservation practice, and student training in Africa. This work has resulted in the discovery of new species, the rediscovery of species believed lost, as well as studies on conservation planning and human-wildlife interactions. I am also an IUCN Red List assessor and have contributed to the identification and mapping of Key Biodiversity Areas and other conservation priorities in Mozambique.

My macroecological research focuses on understanding biodiversity patterns and conservation priorities from regional to global scales. I have developed new approaches for identifying priority conservation sites, including the WEGE index, and worked extensively on species distributions, extinction risk, biodiversity sampling gaps, and the spatial distribution of threats. My studies cover topics ranging from biodiversity knowledge shortfalls in Africa to the global impacts of climate change, land-use change, invasive species, and pollution on reptiles and other taxa. The goal of this work is to provide data-driven tools that help direct conservation resources where they are most needed.

Beyond biodiversity science, I am interested in the societal factors that shape conservation and research. I explore issues such as inequities in scientific publishing, the challenges faced by researchers in low-income countries, and the consequences of underinvestment in African science. Some of my recent studies have shown how low salaries can limit the ability of African biodiversity researchers to conduct fieldwork and build long-term careers, with implications for global conservation knowledge. Through both scientific publications and broader public engagement, I aim to highlight the connections between biodiversity, society, and the people who generate the knowledge needed to protect nature.

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Science communication Books

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Textbooks

All accepted by the Ministry of Education as one of the official books for the National curriculum.

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R packages

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Peer-reviewed publications

1. Farooq, H., Geldmann, J., & Faurby, S. (2026). Species Yet to Be Discovered Are More Threatened and Have Smaller Ranges. Diversity and Distributions, 32(2), e70144.
2. González‐Suárez, M., Stewart, K., Brisco, L., Smith, R. K., Farooq, H., Gompertz, S., … & Christie, A. P. (2026). Conservation evidence is biased but can support decision‐making for prevalent and severe threats in tetrapods. Journal of Applied Ecology, 63(3), e70337.
3. Farooq, H., Hilton-Taylor, C., Hoffmann, M., Rahbek, C. and Geldmann, J., (2026) Priorities for conservation rely heavily on discovery and assessments. Biological Conservation, 315, p.111689.
4. Bladon, A. J., Akite, P., Chowdhury, S., Riva, F., Cooke, R., Dyer, E. E., … Farooq, H. & Dicks, L. V. (2026). Global Biodiversity Framework targets can drive action on insect declines, but lack robust indicators to prove their effectiveness. Conservation Letters, 19(2), e70025.
5. Faurby, S. & Farooq, H. (2026). Global patterns in species description year cannot reliably estimate undescribed diversity. Frontiers of Biogeography. e171197
6. Farooq, H., & Nganhane, I. D. N. (2026). Salary inequality as a predictor of biodiversity research output in Africa. Conservation Biology, e70295.
7. Gorosábel, A., Farooq, H., Mulligan, M., Iversen, L. L., & Geldmann, J. (2026). Assessing the associations between renewable energy generation and other human-induced threats to terrestrial biodiversity. Cell Reports Sustainability.
8. Engelbrecht, H. M., Seeiso, K. L., Eimermacher, T. G., Farooq, H., Menegon, M., & Conradie, W. A. (2026). Drawing the Vine Line: Integrative Analyses Reveal Seven Distinct Species of African Vine Snakes, Thelotornis (Colubridae: Colubrinae). Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 2026(1), 3068066
9. Bayliss, J., Clark, V.R., de Sousa, C., Farooq, H., Jorge, A., Massad, T., Monteiro, J., Nhantumbo, I., Roelens, J.B. and Kuchler, T., (2025) The Mozambique Mountain Initiative: Safeguarding Mozambique’s Unique Montane Ecosystems. Mountain Research and Development, 45(4), pp.P1-P6.
10. Inteca, G., Silva, I., & Farooq, H. (2025) The first record of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting attempt in Pemba, Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 105, e37.
11. Kessous, I. M., Farooq, H., Testo, W., Jiménez, M. F. T., Neves, B., Pinto, A. R., … & Bacon, C. D. (2025). New insights into the classification, diversification, and evolutionary dynamics of bromeliads. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, boae074.
12. Gonçalves, F. , Farooq, H. Galetto, M. (2024) A global map of species at risk of extinction due to natural hazards. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(26), e2321068121. (Shared first author)
13. Nganhane, I. D. N., & Farooq, H. (2024). Self-advocacy for young African scientists. Science, 384(6697), 748-748.
14. Farooq, H., Harfoot, M., Rahbek, C., & Geldmann, J. (2024). Threats to reptiles at global and regional scales. Current Biology, 34(10), 2231-2237.
15. Bayliss, J., Bittencourt-Silva, G.B., Branch, W.R., Bruessow, C., Collins, S., Congdon, T.C.E., Conradie, W., Curran, M., Daniels, S.R., Darbyshire, I. and Farooq, H., et al (2024). A biogeographical appraisal of the threatened South East Africa Montane Archipelago ecoregion. Scientific Reports, 14(1), p.5971.
16. Farooq, H., & Geldmann, J. (2024). The fear factor—Snakes in Africa might be at an alarming extinction risk. Conservation Letters, 17(1), e12998.
17. Monadjem, A., Farooq, H., & Kane, A. (2024). Elevation filters bat, rodent and shrew communities differently by morphological traits. Diversity and Distributions, 30(3), 1-15.
18. Farooq, H., Antonelli, A. & Faurby, S. (2023). Future-proofing the Key Biodiversity Areas framework. Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation 21(4) pp326-328
19. Inteca, G., Hagy, B., Silva, I., Amoda, C., Cululo, A., & Farooq, H. (2023). The tourism industry keeps beaches clean in Mozambique. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 196, 115615.
20. Richards, S.L., Farooq, H., Matimele, H., Alves, T., Datizua, C., Langa, C., Massingue, A., Osborne, J., Rokni, S., de Sousa, C. and Darbyshire, I., (2023). Identifying Mozambique’s most critical areas for plant conservation: An evaluation of protected areas and Important Plant Areas. Biotropica 55, no. 6 (2023): 1183-1194
21. Nganhane, I., Naskrecki, P., Farooq, H. Gimo, D. (2023) Millipede consumption and interaction between food preferences and sex in dung beetle Chalconotus convexus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae). Austral Ecology.
22. Williams, J.W., Taylor, A., Tolley, K.A., Provete, D.B., Correia, R., Guedes, T.B., Farooq, H., Li, Q., Pinheiro, H.T., Liz, A.V. and Luna, L.W., (2023) Shifts to open access with high article processing charges hinder research equity and careers. Journal of Biogeography.
23. Puruleia, A., Nanvonamuquitxo, C., Ernesto, M., Jamal, A., Amade, I., Monia, W., Massingue, Y., Verburgt, L., Faurby, S., Antonelli, A.,  Perrigo, A. & Farooq, H. (2023) Rediscovery of the lost skink Proscelotes aenea and implications for conservation. Scientific Reports, 13(1), p.11261.
24. Antonelli, A., Farooq, H., Colli-Silva, M., Araújo, J.P., Freitas, A.V., Gardner, E.M., Grace, O., Gu, S., Marline, L., Nesbitt, M. and Niskanen, T., (2023) People-inspired names remain valuable. Nature Ecology & Evolution, pp.1-2.
25. Farooq, H. Antonelli, A., Faurby, S. (2023) A call for improving the Key Biodiversity Areas framework. Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation. 21(1), pp.85-91
26. Antonelli, A. (…) Farooq, H. (…). (2022) Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity: Evolution, distribution, and use. Science, 378(6623), eabf0869.
27. Ralimanana, H. (…) Farooq, H. (…). (2022) Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity: Threats and opportunities. Science, 378(6623), eadf1466.
28. Farooq, H. Bero, C., Guilengue, Y., Elias, C., Massingue, Y., Mucopote, I. Nanvonamuquitxo, C., Marais, J., Faurby, S. & Antonelli, A., (2022) Snakebite incidence in rural sub-Saharan Africa might be severely underestimated. Toxicon, 219, 106932.
29. Farooq, H. Nanvonamuquitxo, C., Nassongole, B., Conradie, W., Bills, R., Soares, A. & Antonelli, A. (2022) Shedding Light On A Biodiversity Dark Spot: Survey Of Amphibians And Reptiles Of Pemba District In Northern Mozambique. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 17(2):423–432
30. Farooq, H. Bero, C., Guilengue, Y., Elias, C., Massingue, Y., Mucopote, I. Nanvonamuquitxo, C., Marais, J., Antonelli, A., Faurby, S. (2021) Species perceived to be dangerous are more likely to have distinctive local names. J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine 17 (69).
31. Farooq, H. & Uetz, P. (2021)Can we identify European snakes by color patterns? Salamandra 57(4): 520–528
32. Engel, M., (…) Farooq, H. (…) Zacharie, C. (2021) The taxonomic impediment: a shortage of taxonomists, not the lack of technical approaches. Zoological journal of the Linnean Society, Volume 193, Issue 2, October 2021, Pages 381-387;
33. Farooq H, Anderson J, Soares A, Antonelli A & Faurby S (2021). Mapping Africa’s biodiversity: More of the same is just not good enough, Systematic Biology, Volume 70, Issue 3, May 2021, Pages 623–633;
34. Morgado F, Farooq H & Soares A (2020) Preservation of Marine Biodiversity and Social Economical Sustainability in Mozambique. In: Leal F W, Azul A M, Brandli L, Lange S A, Wall T. (eds) Partnerships for the Goals. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham;
35. Farooq H & Uetz P (2020). Identifying Australian snakes by color patterns. Vertebrate Zoology, 70(3), 473-482;
36. Farooq H, Anderson J, Belluardo F, Nanvonamuquitxo C, Bennett D, Moat J, Soares A, Faurby S & Antonelli A (2020) WEGE: A new metric for ranking locations for biodiversity conservation. Divers Distrib; 00: 1– 11;
37. Daru B H, Farooq H, Antonelli A & Faurby S (2020) Endemism patterns are scale dependent. Nature Communications, 11(1), 1-11.
38. Alves F, Leal W F, Casaleiro P, Nagy G J, Diaz H, Al-Amin A Q, de Andrade J B S O, Hurlbert M, Farooq H, Klavins M & Saroar M (2020) Climate change policies and agendas: Facing implementation challenges and guiding responses. Environmental Science & Policy, 104, pp.190-198;
39. Ihlow F, Farooq H, Gvoždík V, Hofmeyr M D, Conradie W, Campbell PD, Harvey J, Verburgt L & Fritz U (2019) Geographic range extension of Speke’s Hinge-back Tortoise Kinixys spekii Gray, 1863. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation;
40. Zizka A, Silvestro D, Andermann T, Azevedo J, Duarte Ritter C, Edler D, Farooq H, Herdean A, Ariza M, Scharn R & Svantesson S. (2019) CoordinateCleaner: Standardized cleaning of occurrence records from biological collection databases. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 10(5):744-51;
41. Conradie W, Bittencourt-Silva G, Farooq H, Loader S P, Menegon, M & Tolley K A (2018) New species of Mongrel Frogs (Pyxicephalidae: Nothophryne) for northern Mozambique inselbergs, African Journal of Herpetology;
42. Branch, W R, Guyton J A, Schmitz A, Barej M F, Naskrecki P, Farooq, H, Verburgt L, & Roedel M O (2017) Description of a new flat gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Afroedura) from Mount Gorongosa, Mozambique. Zootaxa, 4324(1), 142-160;
43. Morgado F, Bacelar-Nicolau P, von Osten, J R, Santos P, Bacelar-Nicolau L, Farooq H, Alves F, Soares A & Azeiteiro U (2017) Assessing university student perceptions and comprehension of climate change (Portugal, Mexico and Mozambique). International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Vol. 9 Issue: 3;
44. Bittencourt-Silva G, Conradie W, Siu-Ting K, Tolley K, Channing A, Cunningham, M, Farooq H, Menegon M & Loader S (2016) The phylogenetic position and diversity of the enigmatic mongrel frog Nothophryne Poynton, 1963 (Amphibia, Anura). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 99 (2016) 89–102;
45. Farooq H, Liedtke C, Bittencourt-Silva G, Conradie W & Loader S (2015) The distribution of Mertensophryne anotis with a new record in Northern Mozambique. Herpetology notes, volume 8: 305-307;
46. Farooq H & Conradie W (2015) A second record of Scolecomorphus kirkii Boulenger, 1883 (Gymnophiona: Scolecomorphidae) for Mozambique, Herpetology notes, volume 8: 59-62;
47. Broadley D G & Farooq H (2013) Geographical Distributions, Reptilia: Squamata, Colubridae: Dispholidini, Thelotornis usambaricus Broadley, 2001, Usambara Vine snake, African. Herp News 59 April: 48-50; 
48. Sousa M, Ramos, M, Tarazona J, Díaz-Llanos F, Farooq H, Fonseca C, Alcazar R & Soares A (2012) The perception of risks from extensive agriculture in a Nature 2000 Network site. Fresenius Environmental bulletin.

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