News/events type: News

Congratulations to our Centre Director, Yadvinder Malhi, for appearing on the ENDS Power List for the second year running!

A supporter of Yadvinder’s describes him as “a pioneering ecosystem ecologist”.

In his role at University of Oxford, Malhi looks at how protecting or restoring natural ecosystems can help tackle climate change. His research findings “are significant for conservation and adaptation to climate change,” according to the university.

Malhi is also a trustee of the Natural History Museum of London and a fellow of the Royal Society. He has also been the former president of the British Ecological Society (BES).

A nominator explained that Malhi is leading a BES project this year on how artificial intelligence (AI) can support a more equitable research community, “using AI to review how we have progressed in our global journey”.

A champion of international equity, Malhi is committed to international ecology and building support for all ecologists to ensure inclusive and equitable solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss.

In his field work, Malhi is said by his supporters to ensure that local researchers and students are also “an integral part of the research team, valued in the same way as any other team member”.

Malhi is also the founding director of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, an institution that aims to understand and support the actions needed to deliver nature recovery that is effective, scalable and socially inclusive.

Dr David Cooper, Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery member, has been appointed as the Chair of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). The appointment was made in conjunction with the devolved governments and is for a three-year term from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2028.

This new appointment has been made on merit and in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

As the UK’s statutory advisor on nature, the JNCC provides scientific evidence and advice to the devolved governments of the UK, the UK government, and the UK’s Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, to help policymakers turn science into action for nature.

David Cooper is Visiting Fellow at the Oxford Martin School and Honorary Researcher of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery at the University of Oxford.
David has more than 30 years’ experience in international science and policy, including at the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. As CBD Deputy Executive Secretary and Acting Executive Secretary, he was instrumental in facilitating the development and adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and related agreements.

David has contributed to the work of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services among other scientific reports and assessments.
He has chaired a number of bodies including the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management, the Biodiversity Indicators Partnership, and the Inter-agency liaison group on Invasive Alien Species.

Congratulations David!

Caitlin Hafferty, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Centre, has recently been awarded an Oxford Policy Engagement Network (OPEN) Fellowship to conduct a project on understanding the impact of risk and uncertainty on high-integrity nature markets in the UK.

The UK is committed to meeting net zero and nature recovery targets through the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), aiming to close the “nature-finance” gap by unlocking private investment through voluntary carbon and nature markets. This is supported by policy, regulation, and guidance outlined in the Nature Markets Framework (NMF) and Green Finance Strategy (GFS). Carbon and nature markets must be “high-integrity” to ensure genuine environmental improvement, transparency, and avoidance of greenwashing, while supporting an array of socio-economic, climate, and ecological goals. Research also indicates that high-integrity should also guarantee community benefits and protect social safeguards. However, a key policy challenge is understanding the drivers and barriers to business’ participation in these markets. Recent studies show tensions between investor demands for certainty and the delivery of socio-economic and community benefits, which can introduce new risks for already risk-averse investors. Desire to avoid risk and uncertainty can also bias the types of ecological interventions that are prioritised, where market-driven approaches can drive simplistic narratives around the delivery of biodiversity benefits (e.g., tree planting) alongside carbon and wider societal goals.

This rapid, collaborative, and impact-focused project – titled ‘How does risk and uncertainty shape policy on high-integrity carbon and nature markets in the UK?’ – runs from January-July 2025 and is part of Caitlin’s broader LCNR-funded research on Risky Nature Recovery. The Fellowship is being conducted in partnership with the Green Finance and Capability Team at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), with support from the Green Finance Division in the Department for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra). It is also being supported by existing collaborations within the LCNR ‘Society’ work package and the Agile Initiative alumni network.

This social science and conceptually driven project will generate novel insights to inform the UK government’s strategy for achieving net zero and nature recovery goals through high-integrity carbon and nature markets. Specifically, it will explore how risk and uncertainty influence investor perceptions of and participation in the markets, providing evidence on how policy, guidance, and regulatory interventions can help. This will directly contribute to DESNZ and Defra’s work on the Nature Markets Framework (NMF), which sets out the government’s vision and approach for scaling up private investment in nature recovery and sustainable farming.

The Fellowship will see Caitlin embedded in DESNZ in an advisory role, co-designing the research with policy partners to help decision-makers make use of the evidence to shape policy in the UK, with relevance internationally. Building on their participation in the OPEN Policy Mentoring Scheme, the research problem has been co-identified with DESNZ to contribute to the UK’s upcoming consultation with Defra on high-integrity voluntary carbon and nature markets. This will provide timely insights into the challenges and solutions for developing future standards, while aligning with broader policy on the EIP, NFM, and GFS. The Fellowship aims to foster collaboration between ongoing research and relevant projects at the LCNR and Agile Initiative, drawing on cutting edge analysis conducted between these projects in a mutually enriching way, to ultimately contribute to collective forward-thinking on integrated and socially inclusive approaches for financing and governing nature recovery.

This project is actively open to fostering new collaborations and knowledge sharing with other projects, researchers, policy and industry partners working on related themes across the University of Oxford and elsewhere. For more information, or any questions, please contact Caitlin: Caitlin.hafferty@ouce.ox.ac.uk.

We are now in the run-up to a General Election, but nature recovery is not currently a major priority for any party, despite its loss being a major risk to the wellbeing and prosperity of our nation, and despite it being a high priority for the UK public. Additionally, current nature policy is focussed on nature at home, despite our nation having a major biodiversity footprint overseas. Recognising our responsibilities towards overseas biodiversity loss is an issue of international and intergenerational equity, and relates to our country’s ambitions for global leadership in international development and policy.

Together with Professor Nathalie Pettorelli of the Institute of Zoology, programme member Professor E.J. Milner-Gulland has just led on sending a letter to this effect to the environment leads of all the political parties contesting this election (including those standing in the Devolved Administrations). The letter has now been signed by over 180 UK scientists with expertise in biodiversity and conservation, including Fellows of the Royal Society and Government advisors.

Their policy asks are:

i) Legislate a legally-binding requirement on government to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, at home and with respect to our overseas footprint;

ii) Set up a whole-government platform for implementing this biodiversity commitment.

You can read their letter here

 

The Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is interested in promoting a wide variety of views and opinions on nature recovery from researchers and practitioners.

The views, opinions and positions expressed within this letter are those of the authors alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery or its researchers.

The ENDS Report Power List is back. This week they named the 100 UK environmental professionals who have made the greatest impact in the past two years – as nominated by their colleagues, clients and competitors. Today, ENDS released its final categories, revealing the names of 10 academics shaping the science on environmental issues, and nine professional influencers driving for change.

Yadvinder has been described by his peers as “a pioneering ecosystem ecologist who uses ecological knowledge to shape policy at regional, national and international levels, putting ecology at the heart of decision making”.

Former president of the British Ecological Society, trustee of the Natural History Museum of London and a fellow of the Royal Society, Malhi recently advanced the application of energy flows through ecosystems as a measure of function, providing a novel way of understanding how nature works – as well as invaluable insights into the conservation value of human-impacted landscapes.

In his field work, supporters say Malhi ensures that not only are local researchers and students included in the work but that they are “an integral part of the research team, acknowledged, valued, nurtured and respected in the same way as any other team member”.

Conflicting advice from the government and professional agencies is one of the biggest challenges farmers face when managing their land. Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery scientists have been studying this issue and have developed a tool to aid all those involved in the industry.

Dr Emilie Vrain, Senior Research Associate, and Leilai Immel-Parkinson, a former Research Assistant, interviewed farm advisors across government, industry, and non-profit organisations in England. Dr Vrain said:

“Those who own and manage land are often decision makers, holding a unique and powerful position for implementing land-use changes for nature recovery, for example, through pollution mitigation or habitat creation.”

The researchers say the role of advisory organisations, also known as extension services, in supporting nature recovery is vital to support land managers by providing knowledge of suitable nature recovery measures and any grants that may be available to them.

Conflicting recommendations carry the risk of fragmentation within an advisory sector. Additionally, the researchers say different environmental landscapes present a series of varying physical and social challenges for nature recovery.

In particular, the researchers looked at diffuse water pollution from agriculture, (DWPA). This is contamination of water environments resulting from pollutants such as fertilisers, pesticides and sediment from farming activities.

Leilai Immel-Parkinson added:

“These decision-makers can face multiple challenges for carrying out these changes, for example, lacking access to up-to-date knowledge, financial barriers or conflicting business aims. However, increasingly, land managers are seeking to diversify their core activities and implement voluntary measures for nature recovery.”

The Niche Mapper analytical framework provides insight for how best to support the sector in terms of both agri-environment policy and the direction of government initiates such as Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF). CSF is an English farm advice programme funded by the UK Government. It works with farmers, communities, and organisations across England to improve the quality of water, air, and sustainable water management.

The research was co-funded by the Environment Agency (EA) and the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery.

Read more about the project here

Earlier in October, the BBC Countryfile team returned once more to Wytham Woods to film for an upcoming episode, part of the 12-month Wild Britain initiative that’s aimed at galvanising support for saving the UK’s endangered wildlife.

Ellie Harrison and Hamza Yassin visited the Woods, with the latter climbing into their canopy to learn more about the complex woodland ecosystem and the impact that ash dieback is having. The team also visited other sites in the area including Boundary Brook Nature Reserve in East Oxford.

The episode will air at 5.15pm on Sunday 5 November, and you can watch it on iPlayer  at any time after that

Wytham Woods form an iconic location that has been the subject of continuous ecological research programmes, many dating back to the 1940s. The estate has been owned and maintained by the University of Oxford since 1942. The Woods are often quoted as being one of the most researched pieces of woodland in the world, and their 1000 acres are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The wooded parts of the Wytham Estate comprise ancient semi-natural woodland (dating to the last Ice Age), secondary woodland (dating to the seventeenth century), and modern plantations (1950s and 60s). The fourth key habitat is the limestone grassland found at the top of the hill. Other smaller habitats include a valley-side mire and a series of ponds.

The site is exceptionally rich in flora and fauna, with over 500 species of plants, a wealth of woodland habitats, and 800 species of butterflies and moths.

There are 23 miles of beautiful woodland footpaths and loads of interesting events to connect you to nature check out the website here

Author: Dr. Caitlin Hafferty

Highlands Rewilding, a pioneering initiative seeking to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis through accelerating nature-based solutions, has released a comprehensive “Engagement Roadmap”. This roadmap, developed in collaboration with researchers from the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery and Agile Initiative, alongside Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), presents a strategy for effective public and stakeholder engagement in rewilding and nature-based solutions projects.

The Engagement Roadmap utilises social science evidence to chart the course for collaborative, inclusive, and large-scale nature-based solutions. It draws on research conducted as part of Agile’s Scaling-up Nature-based Solutions project and the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, in collaboration with researchers Dr. Caitlin Hafferty, Dr. Mark Hirons, and Dr. Constance McDermott. The Roadmap encompasses six key steps to guide projects like rewilding, ensuring they resonate with local communities, governments, and the broader public:

1.       Identifying engagement objectives: The Engagement Roadmap underscores the significance of defining the purpose of engagement, for example, whether it involves collaboration on a management plan or the communication of findings.

2.       Involving interested and affected parties: To ensure a broad spectrum of perspectives, the Roadmap advocates for the inclusion of local communities, government bodies, and other key stakeholders.

3.       Selecting appropriate engagement methods: It provides a range of methods spanning communication, consultation, collaboration, and empowerment, highlighting the importance of choosing the right approach for each context.

4.       Co-identifying desired benefits: The Roadmap encourages projects to align their goals with the aspirations of local communities, including creating job opportunities, facilitating access to nature, and promoting locally-produced food.

5.       Continuous evaluation: By advocating for ongoing feedback and monitoring, the Roadmap aims to foster adaptive and responsive engagement processes. It also promotes engagement as a method to enhance integrated socio-economic and ecological monitoring frameworks.

6.       Embedding engagement: One of the central messages is that engagement should be woven into the very fabric of rewilding projects, not relegated to a mere communication tool. It should permeate the decision-making process, from baselining and planning to implementation and evaluation, and beyond. This may require building the necessary capacity and capability to engage well, and initiating a supportive engagement culture.

Highlands Rewilding, which places a strong emphasis on benefiting both the local and global community, seeks to combat climate change and protect biodiversity while simultaneously generating environmental, social, and economic advantages. Recognising that meaningful engagement is a cornerstone of their mission, they emphasise the role of engagement in delivering integrated benefits for people, nature, and the climate.

A notable distinction of the roadmap is its view that community and stakeholder engagement should not be the final step, merely aimed at garnering support for projects. Instead, engagement should be considered an intrinsic output, with a crucial role to play throughout all stages of the decision-making process. This can help improving environmental outcomes and ensure that local voices are heard and integrated into the heart of nature-based solutions initiatives.

Highlands Rewilding welcomes feedback on this work-in-progress engagement guidance and is committed to its continuous refinement. They plan to work closely with local communities and other relevant groups to ensure the roadmap remains responsive to the evolving needs and aspirations of all stakeholders. This commitment to inclusivity and adaptability underscores Highlands Rewilding’s dedication to creating a more sustainable and harmonious relationship between people, nature, and the environment.

For further details and to download the Engagement Roadmap, please visit Highlands Rewilding’s blog.