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In this episode of the Nature Recovery Podcast, Stephen Thomas is joined by Nat Duffus and Harrison Carter to unpack the often confusing world of biodiversity finance. Harrison introduces his new paper, Demystifying Biodiversity Finance, and explains why conservationists, ecologists and investors need a shared language to make sense of bonds, loans, equity, credits and risk.

The conversation explores:

•  what biodiversity finance actually means in practice 
•  how bonds can support nature recovery, and where they fall short 
•  why project-level, social and ecological risks matter for investors 
•  the importance of monitoring, reporting and verification 
•  why scepticism is not the same as negativity when trying to finance nature 

The episode makes a strong case for honest, practical collaboration between conservation and finance, with the long-term goal of creating more effective and more durable support for nature recovery.

You can find the paper here:

https://naturerecovery.ox.ac.uk/outputs/demystifying-biodiversity-finance/

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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For a long time, freshwater experts thought of estuaries as just "the end of the river," while marine biologists dismissed them as "the bit where the sea comes in." But today, scientists realize that estuaries are incredibly complex, dynamic ecosystems in their own right. 

In this episode of the Nature Recovery Podcast, Stephen is joined by world-renowned estuarine and coastal science expert, Professor Mike Elliott. They explore the fascinating, constantly fluctuating world of estuaries, the vital "ecotones" where rivers meet the sea.

Professor Elliott explains the "triple whammy" of pressures facing global coastlines, the difference between contamination and pollution, and introduces the concept of the "Emerald Economy." He also breaks down the DAPSI(W)R(M) framework for solving complex environmental challenges, proving that when we relieve the pressures on these dynamic systems, nature can, and does, bounce back.

Key Topics Covered:

• What actually makes an estuary an ecosystem in its own right?
• The "Estuarine Quality Paradox" and how organisms survive extreme environmental stress.
• Understanding the "Emerald Economy": Ecosystem services vs. Societal goods and benefits.
• The "Triple Whammy" threatening our coasts: industrialization, resource depletion, and climate change.
• Incredible recovery stories: How the dead Thames and Clyde estuaries were brought back to life.
• The DAPSI(W)R(M) framework: A roadmap for balancing human needs with natural systems.

Resources:

• Learn more about Professor Mike Elliott's work at the University of Hull and IECS Limited.

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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Professor Cristina Banks-Leite (Imperial College London) discusses the realities of tropical forest restoration: from large-scale reforestation projects and the practical challenges of seedlings, land tenure and finance, to why measured “success” can look counter-intuitive. She explains why current biodiversity metrics often miss the point, and how novel tools (like acoustic monitoring and AI) could transform how we listen to and protect ecosystems. A thoughtful conversation about balancing people, money and ecological intactness in nature recovery.

You can also see Cristina Banks-Leite's talk on our YouTube channel
What drives species sensitivity to deforestation? Clue: it’s not what you think 

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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In this episode, Jason Williams , better known as The Cloud Gardener, shares how a lockdown balcony became a haven for biodiversity and wellbeing, leading him to the Chelsea Flower Show and a Churchill Fellowship exploring greener cities around the world.

Later, researchers Martha Crockatt and Mattia Troiano talk to Raphaella Mascia and discuss their Oxford-based work on equity of access to green space, and how social, economic and spatial inequalities shape who benefits from urban nature.

Together they reflect on what makes city greening succeed and who might be left behind.

Highlights

• 00:00 — Welcome and introductions
• 01:00 — Jason’s balcony story: lockdown gardening, biodiversity, and mental health
• 04:00 — From social media to show gardens and Chelsea Flower Show
• 08:00 — Lessons from Milan, Singapore and China: community vs private greening
• 12:00 — The challenges of “sterile balcony” policies and access for renters
• 15:00 — Greening Manchester’s alleyways and working with local communities
• 19:00 — Martha & Mattia introduce their research on Oxford’s green spaces
• 24:00 — Findings: small spaces, inequitable access, and local governance
• 31:00 — Art & Nature in The Leys: community engagement through art
• 36:00 — Reflections on interdisciplinary collaboration and next steps

Resources & links

The Cloud Gardener

Community Values in Accessible Urban Green Spaces (Project)

Art and Nature in The Leys (Event)

Learn more about the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery: naturerecovery.ox.ac.uk

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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How should we think about killing, introductions and “invasives” in a world we’ve already changed? In this episode we talk to Hugh Warwick — ecologist, writer and hedgehog champion — about his award-winning book Cull of the Wild and the uncomfortable question at its heart: can killing ever be conservation?

From hedgehogs on the Hebrides to rats on South Georgia, Hugh explores what happens when good intentions meet ecological complexity. We discuss the power of names, the moral weight of words like “pest” and “eradication,” and why conservation decisions always come with ethical consequences.

Expect humour, philosophy, and a few awkward truths — including why he thinks every scientist’s spreadsheet should have a column for cruelty.

Episode Highlights

• How the words we use — “pest,” “invasive,” “pet” — decide how animals are treated
• When eradication makes sense, and when it causes more harm than good
• The story of the Uist hedgehogs and the lessons of unintended consequences
• Why nature recovery is also people recovery — the need for social capital and empathy
• From philosophers to gamekeepers: learning from those we disagree with

Links & resources:

• Hugh Warwick — website  https://hughwarwick.com
  
  
• Cull of the Wild — buy / details:
  https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/cull-of-the-wild-killing-in-the-name-of-conservation-winner-of-the-zsl-clarivate-award
  
  

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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This episode of the Nature Recovery Podcast discusses legal personhood of nature, also known as rights of nature or more-than-human rights. Hosts Stephen Thomas, Hannah Wilson, and Diana Gusta sit down with lawyer and professor Cesar Rodriguez-Garavito, the founding director of the More-than-Human Life (MOTH) Collective.

The discussion covers the following key points:

• The historical context of the movement: While Western legal frameworks have only recently begun adopting rights for nature, the idea is rooted in the long-standing practices and beliefs of Indigenous cultures globally.
• A groundbreaking legal moment: The 2008 Ecuadorian Constitution is highlighted as a foundational moment for the modern rights of nature movement, being the first to enshrine these rights into law. This was the result of collaboration between Indigenous leaders and a diverse group of scientists, activists, and scholars.
• Ecocentric vs. Anthropocentric views: The hosts and guest explore the difference between framing nature protection as a human right (the right to a healthy environment) versus a right inherent to nature itself (more-than-human rights). Rodriguez-Garavito argues that viewing humans as part of a larger, interconnected web of life is a more durable and effective approach, as the health of human society is directly tied to the health of the biosphere.
• Practical challenges and cultural shifts: The conversation addresses challenges to implementing these laws, such as legal costs and governmental pushback. However, it is argued that these are not new problems for social change movements, as seen in the human rights movement. The discussion concludes by highlighting the importance of cultural change and shifting perceptions, stating that legal action is just one of many tools that can be used to advance this cause.

Links & Resources

• MOTH Life: An interdisciplinary initiative dedicated to the advancement of rights and well-being for humans, nonhumans, and the web of life. For more information, visit their website. https://mothrights.org/about/
• Cesar Rodriguez-Garavito: A lawyer and professor at NYU School of Law. He has written extensively on topics including more-than-human rights and climate change litigation. Profile
• Project CETI: A collaborative project to understand the acoustic communication of sperm whales using AI, mentioned as an example of scientific work that supports a more-than-human perspective. Link

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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Guests

• Natalie Duffus (DPhil student, Dept. of Biology)
  https://naturerecovery.ox.ac.uk/people/natalie-duffus/
• Matti Troiano (Research Assistant, School of Geography and the Environment)
  https://naturerecovery.ox.ac.uk/people/mattia-troiano/
• Host: Stephen Thomas (Centre Manager, Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery)

 In this illuminating episode, we tackle the increasingly tangled web of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and get an update on what is happening with its current implementation. We also look at the Nature Restoration Fund — two major pieces of England’s ecological compensation puzzle.

Our guests Natalie and Matti break down what these policies are, how they affect developers, landowners, and communities — and why even good intentions may go sawry when market logic meets under-resourced local authorities.

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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Nature Finance – Opportunities, Challenges, and What Comes Next

In this episode, we delve into the fast-evolving world of nature finance — with a focus on schemes emerging in England, and insights relevant to the global shift toward blended finance for nature recovery. As governments increasingly look to private investment to complement public funding, what’s working, what’s not, and where is this movement headed?

We explore the key challenges facing nature finance today, from market design to policy uncertainty, and discuss promising innovations that could shape the future of investment in biodiversity and ecosystems.

Hosted by: Raphaella Mascia

Guests:

Professor Alexander Teytelboym
Department of Economics, University of Oxford
Alexander Teytelboym is a Professor of Economics whose research focuses on market design—including matching markets, auctions, and network economics. He applies economic theory to pressing policy challenges in areas such as environmental protection, energy systems, and refugee resettlement.

Dr Sophus zu Ermgassen
Department of Biology, University of Oxford
Dr Sophus zu Ermgassen is an ecological economist specialising in biodiversity finance, sustainable infrastructure, and nature-positive policy and investment. His research has been featured in The Guardian, BBC Countryfile, Sky News, The Financial Times, and the ENDS Report. He advises the UK government through roles with Natural England’s Biodiversity Net Gain Monitoring and Evaluation group, the UK Treasury’s Biodiversity Economics working group, and the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits. He has also contributed to UK Parliamentary reports and briefings on biodiversity and just sustainability transitions.

Alqayam (Al) Meghji
Senior Policy Advisor, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Al Meghji is a Senior Policy Advisor at Defra, bringing together technical engineering expertise and strategic policy insight across water, energy, and land use. His work addresses the intersection of natural resources and climate resilience under demographic and environmental pressures, with a focus on unlocking private investment to complement public funding in nature recovery.

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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Discussing Ohio's beautiful forests and northern Ohio nature recovery efforts with Jessica Miller Mecaskey, Consulting Forester at Holden Forests and Gardens, one of the U.S.'s largest and foremost arboretums. 

Bio:

Jessica Miller Mecaskey was born and raised in Northeast Ohio and is a forestry and natural resource professional with specialization in woodland ecosystems, experienced in forest management from every part of the management cycle. She currently assists landowners as a Consulting Forester out of the Holden Arboretum, assisting private woodland owners to meet their goals to keep forests thriving.

Important Links 

• Holden Forests & Gardens

·                     Great Lakes Basin Forest Health Collaborative

• Cleveland Tree Coalition
• Cleveland Metroparks 
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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This podcast covers topics including current environmental threats to Ohio's habitats and species, nature recovery work being undertaken in urban and rural areas, as well as ways people can become involved in Ohio nature recovery. In Part 1 of our Ohio Nature Recovery series, we will be talking with Anna Zaremba, the Nature-based Solutions Sustainability Manager for the City of Cleveland, Ohio as well as Dr. Lara Roketenetz, Biological Field Station Director for the University of Akron, and Dr. Randall Mitchell, Distinguished Professor of Biology at the University of Akron. 

Anna Zaremba is a public sector sustainability and climate resilience professional with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies and Certificate in Food Studies from Dickinson College. Currently serving as the Nature-Based Solutions Sustainability Manager at the City of Cleveland's Mayor's Office of Sustainability, Anna has contributed to the development of the city's Climate Action Plan and oversees projects focused on organic waste reduction and community resilience. Anna has also contributed to various sustainability and climate justice initiatives through previous roles, including plastic bag outreach campaigns, circular economy planning, and food security research. Passionate about environmental justice and sustainable development, Anna is dedicated to creating equitable and impactful solutions for climate resilience in the Great Lakes Region.

Dr. Lara Roketenetz moved to Cleveland for her undergraduate degree and never left once she discovered her love for the Great Lake Erie and wonderful people in Northeast Ohio. She has a Master's of Biology from John Carroll University and a PhD in Integrated Biosciences from the University of Akron (UA). She is the Director of the UA Field Station where her true passion is the K-12 outreach program for rural, suburban, and urban youth where she inspires our future changemakers through environmental and place-based education. She is a past President of The Organization of Biological Field Stations.

Randy Mitchell Distinguished Professor of Biology, University of Akron, and Faculty Director of the University of Akron Field Station. Dr. Mitchell grew up loving science, the outdoors, and insects. He has done research in many wonderful places, including Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, California’s deserts and mountains and scrub, Adelaide Australia, New Mexico’s mountains and deserts, Wisconsin’s wetlands, and the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley. Dr. Mitchell specializes in researching the ecology of plant-pollinator interactions

Important links

• Cleveland Residential Compost and Workforce Development Pilot Program: https://www.clevelandohio.gov/city-hall/departments/public-works/divisions/waste#:~:text=Food%20Scrap%20Composting%20Drop%2DOff%20Program
• Cleveland Tree Coalition: https://www.clevelandtrees.org/
• Urban Forestry Commission: https://www.sustainablecleveland.org/urban_forestry_commission
• Organization for Biological Field Stations:https://www.obfs.org/
• Summit Metroparks Free the Falls project:  https://www.summitmetroparks.org/about/free-the-falls/

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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This week I'm joined by Andrew Allen, the lead policy advocate on land use for the woodland trust. We will be discussing their new report out on the 3rd of December and how it attempts to encourage more debate as to how we go about recovering nature.

You can find a link to the report here:
https://www.naturerecovery.ox.ac.uk/projects/exploring-the-role-of-the-state-in-achieving-nature-recovery/

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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This month sees the publication of The Nattergal Report on Stakeholder Engagement Best Practice for Landscape-scale Nature Recovery Projects. Developed for the Boothby Wildland Landscape Recovery project, and funded via the DEFRA Landscape Recovery Development Phase, the report was led by the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) at the University of Gloucestershire and the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery and Agile Initiative projects at Oxford University, with the objective of establishing a framework for enhancing and embedding stakeholder engagement into nature restoration.

Ben Hart, Head of Operations at Nattergal said: “As part of our Landscape Recovery Phase 1 Pilot development project for Boothby Wildland, we reached out to Dr. Caitlin Hafferty at the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery (LCNR), and Josh Davis at the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) to help us to understand how to develop and deliver an exemplar best practice programme for our first Nattergal nature restoration project. Josh, Caitlin, and their colleagues did an amazing job of reviewing all available guidance and frameworks on the subject and condensed them into a digestible 10-principle approach that we could implement on site.

• Read about Nattergal’s 10-point approach: https://www.nattergal.co.uk/blog/stakeholder-engagement-best-practice-nattergals-ten-point-approach
• Nattergal’s full report: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62bdbafba41de5210660365f/t/67066c880f1d7260c5c72eee/1728474250091/Nattergal+Report+on+Stakeholder+Engagement+Best+Practice.pdf
• Executive summary of Nattergal’s report: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62bdbafba41de5210660365f/t/670910c0c1dcca2ca70e3ef0/1728647362954/Stakeholder+Engagement+Best+Practice+-+Executive+Summary.pdf
• Governance guidance that helped inform Nattergal’s report, including links to case studies and lessons learned: https://nbshub.naturebasedsolutionsinitiative.org/governance/
• Highlands Rewilding’s Engagement Roadmap: https://www.highlandsrewilding.co.uk/blog/community-engagement-in-rewilding
• Podcast with Highlands Rewilding on people and participation: https://www.naturerecovery.ox.ac.uk/news/new-nature-recovery-podcast-rewilding-people-and-participation/

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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In this episode of the Nature Recovery Podcast, Stephen Thomas speaks with Lee White about a remarkable life working across science, conservation, and government in central Africa. Lee reflects on growing up in Uganda, studying rainforest ecosystems in West Africa and Gabon, and how his scientific work led him into national park creation, forest policy, and international climate negotiations.

The conversation explores why the gap between scientific evidence and political action remains so wide, and why forests need to be understood not only as ecosystems but as economic and geopolitical systems. Lee explains how Gabon tried to make standing forests economically valuable through protected areas, sustainable forestry, and REDD+, and why that model faced both successes and setbacks.

They also discuss the Congo Basin as a global climate system, the importance of local and international science capacity, and the role of nature in human health, resilience, and wellbeing. The episode ends with a broader reflection on what nature recovery really means, from restoring cities and farmland to thinking at a planetary scale.

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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Who pays is a challenging question in any nature recovery project. In this episode we chat with Christoph Warrack of Woodland Savers (https://woodlandsavers.org/) about how they use a mix of finance sources to enable community ownership of natural areas.

Reports referenced:

The Lawton Review - Making Space for Nature (2010), and The State of Natural Capital report (2024).

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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Our guest this week is Professor Dame E.J. Milner-Gulland who is the Tasso Leventis Professor of Biodiversity at Oxford. She leads the Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science, founded the Conservation Optimism organization and co-founded the Saiga Conservation Alliance. In June 2024 she published a perspectives piece entitled 

https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002657

In this podcast we discuss some of the questions she raises in that piece and a range of issues related to the complexities inherent within conservation and how to stay optimistic in the face of them. You can join the Conservation Optimism Summit by visiting this link: https://summit24.wpenginepowered.com/

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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Human societies and their use of land have transformed ecology across this planet for thousands of years. As a result, the global patterns of life on Earth, the biomes, can no longer be understood without considering how humans have altered them. Anthromes, or anthropogenic biomes, characterise the globally significant ecological patterns created by sustained direct human interactions with ecosystems, including agriculture, urbanisation, and other land uses. Anthromes now cover more than three quarters of Earth’s ice-free land surface, including dense settlements, villages, croplands, rangelands, and semi natural lands; wildlands untransformed by agriculture and settlements cover the remaining area 

In this podcast we discuss the relationship of humans and nature with Professor Erle Ellis. We look at how since the dawn of humanity we've been impacting the land. Now as these impacts gather pace and lead to undesirable outcomes we discuss how we can reframe the role of the human species as being an intrinsic part of nature and possessing the power to shape the world to more desirable outcomes.

Professor Erle C Ellis is Professor of Geography and Environmental Systems at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) where he directs the Anthroecology Laboratory.

His research investigates the ecology of human landscapes at local to global scales to inform sustainable stewardship of the biosphere in the Anthropocene. 

https://anthroecology.org/anthromes

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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What role does the state have to play in nature recovery?

If we are serious about halting the decline in biodiversity do we need to lay out a more ambitious agenda that can unify the currently fragmented aspects of private nature finance, state intervention and the role of public sector institutions. This is part of the argument raised buy Dr. Sophus zu Ermgassen and a team of experts in a recent pre-print: https://osf.io/preprints/osf/td4qj

We talk to him about this mission-driven approach and what types of changes need addressing if we are to see fair and inclusive nature recovery that can actual deliver a restoration of our natural environments and not just the creation of functioning biodiversity markets.

Find out more 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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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This week we look at Rewilding from the social perspective. Most of the challenges currently facing nature can be linked to human activity and more specific human prioritizations of one type of land use over another. So when we come  to look at solutions to biodiversity loss (Rewilding being one of the most well known) its essential that we understand the role of people in making these solutions work.. It's hoped that  Nature Recovery projects supported by local communities are likely to be more durable, inclusive and ultimately more sustainable. We explore this fascinating topic with three experts:

Dr. Calum Brown is a land system scientist interested in how land management affects ecosystems and societies. He uses a range of methods to investigate how people’s use of land might change in the future, and the potential for nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. Calum has worked in research and conservation in Scotland, the US, Slovakia and Germany, most recently as a Senior Researcher in Land Use Change & Climate at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.  He was raised and educated in the Highlands and holds a Masters from the University of the Highlands and Islands and a PhD (funded by a Microsoft Research Scholarship) from the University of St Andrews.

Josh Davis is  a researcher at  the Countryside and Community Research Institute. His research focuses on shifts in skills and behaviour in the transition from agriculture to nature-based recovery across England. H examines the underlying motivations, incentives, and barriers to local practitioners (farmers, land managers and agricultural advisers) involved in promoting landscape-scale, nature-based recovery.

Dr. Caitlin Hafferty is a researcher at the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery at the University of Oxford. Caitlin is an expert in participatory, democratic and inclusive decision-making, particularly in planning and environmental decision-making. She campions the contributions of the social sciences to understanding sustainability transformations, and currently work on the social dimensions of nature recovery and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) initiatives in the UK.

Links for further reading

• Short brief on Recipes for Engagement
• https://www.naturerecovery.ox.ac.uk/events/event/unlocking-the-power-of-engagement-for-nature-recovery-and-nature-based-solutions-join-our-webinar/
• https://www.highlandsrewilding.co.uk/community
• https://www.highlandsrewilding.co.uk/s/Highlands-Rewilding-Engagement-Roadmap.pdf
• https://www.nattergal.co.uk/boothby-wildland

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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On this podcast we are joined by guest host Alena Goebel as we talk to Professor Christina Hicks about the impact of fishing on our oceans. We examine the differences in scales of fisheries and the important nutritional role fish plays in numerous communities. We look at what is meant by sustainable fisheries and the differences between large scale fish production verus community governed artisanal fishing.

Christina is an Environmental Social Scientist interested in the relationships individuals and societies form with nature; how these relationships shape people’s social, environmental, and health outcomes; and how they create sustainable livelihood choices. Christina is a professor within the Political Ecology group at Lancaster University’s Environment Centre. She gained her PhD in 2013 from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University; after which she held an Early Career Social Science Fellowship at the Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University. Christina main source of research funding conmes from an ERC Starting Grant: FAIRFISH, and she was awarded the 2019 Philip Leverhulme Prize for Geography. Christina’s work is global with particular field sites on the east and west coasts of Africa and in the Pacific.

You can also watch the talk she gave to the Leverhulme Centre here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfCjzXpMlV8

The author reccomended was Daniel Pauly
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Vanishing_Fish/rHKPDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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In this episode Dr Alix Dietzel and Dr. Caitlin Hafferty discuss 'Just Transitions' and discuss different approaches to societal change whether it be decarbonization or recovering nature. If we only focus on the technical aspects we will eliminate the voices of those who are directly impacted. For change to be effective and purposeful, it's essential that people get a say and participate from every sector of society.

You can find out more about their work here:

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/people/person/Alix-Dietzel-de568c8f-8312-4465-a8e3-be4d44d607dc/

https://caitlinhafferty.co.uk/

And the papers and blog posts referenced are here

https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/politics-voice-and-just-transition-who-has-a-say-in-climate-chang

https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2023/06/05/who-has-a-voice-and-who-does-not-in-local-discussion-about-climate-change/

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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The ash tree plays a huge role in Europe's culture and ecology. From Yggdrasill, the giant ash world tree of Norse Mythology to the Guardian trees of Ireland; the ash tree has been a central part of European folklore and mythology. It can be a prolific natural regenerator making it an excellent species for timber and its flexible, white wood is still in high demand today and is used in the manufacture of Morgan cars, Irish hurling sticks and numerous items of furniture and carpentry.

However, the European ash tree is now facing the most significant modern threat to its survival. Ash Dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) was common in China and Asia (where native ash species have obtained tolerance over time). In a globalised world, where timber and plant material are constantly being transported; this has sped up the spread of infectious tree diseases and pests. Ash dieback has ripped through Europe and was identified in the UK in 2012. Many UK  ash woodlands have since been decimated by this disease which resulted in some very gloomy headlines:

https://news.exeter.gov.uk/diseased-trees-to-come-down-amid-safety-concerns/

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/16/ash-tree-dieback-uk-woodlands

It is unequivocally a monumental threat to our woodlands and will have major impacts for our ash trees and the species that associate with them.

In this podcast, we take a closer look at ash and the effects of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. We discuss the threat without hyperbole of some headlines and look at the ecology of ash and what will happen to our woodlands as we lose large numbers of these trees to disease. We also offer signs of hope, the living ash project from the Future Trees trust is working with nature to speed up the ash trees ability to fight back. While there's no doubt that ash dieback is a major economic and ecological threat and will dramatically change the nature of our woodlands; we try to take the longer view and understand the likelihood of the ash species to become tolerant over time and take a more nuanced look at the ecology. There is no 'good' or 'bad' only change. The more we can understand the science and the effects of tree diseases, the better placed we will be to manage the threats and identify strategies to resist threats or adapt our ecosystems to a rapidly changing future.

This podcast was co-hosted by Dr Cecilia Dahlsjo who is studying the effects of ash dieback through her work at Oxford University and Dr. Jo Clark who is the head of research for the Future Trees Trust. They run the Living Ash Project which is leading the way in the UK in developing ash dieback tolerant species to help nature rebound from this new threat.

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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In this taster episode we speak to the award -winning writer Emma Marris who offers a fresh and challenging view on some of the issues around conservation and nature recovery.

We'd really encourage you to check out more of Emma's writing. You can find links to her articles and books at:
https://www.emmamarris.com/

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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In this podcast we take a look at Ghana, where landscapes are changing as mining and industrialisation affect traditional ways of managing the land. We look at the impact on cocoa and the effectiveness of global regulations on preventing deforestation and contrast these with traditional community methods.

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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Hosted by Wallerand Bazin, a DPhil researcher in Geography and the Environment at Oxford whose work focuses on the political ecologies of climate and conservation in heritage landscapes. 

In this episode of the Nature Recovery Podcast, Stephen Thomas and Wallerand Bazin speak with Guy Shrubsole about land ownership, stewardship, and the politics of nature recovery in Britain. Shrubsole traces the ideas behind Who Owns England?, The Lost Rainforest of Britain, and The Lie of the Land, and explains how his thinking developed through environmental campaigning, archival research, and fieldwork.

The conversation explores why land ownership remains so concentrated in England, why “stewardship” is often more rhetoric than reality, and why public funding for nature should be tied to stronger accountability. Shrubsole also discusses community land ownership in Scotland, the case for more transparency in land registry data, and how nature recovery needs to be understood through history, justice, and power as well as ecology.

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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We were lucky enough to have a short conversation with Sandra Diaz, where we find out more about here involvement with the COP 15 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. If you enjoy what she has to say, you can find a full lecture from her here:
https://youtu.be/oe2dKpudS4s
as well as numerous articles like this:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-04154-w
and
https://royalsociety.org/blog/2023/01/biodiversity-cop15-sandra-diaz/

We'd love to hear from you and answer any questions you habe or repsond to suggestions, so if you want to contact the show, please message us on Twitter @naturerecovery or  email us at:
naturerecovery@ouce.ox.ac.uk

You can also find us on linkedin for all the serious stuff like job postings, event news and more

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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Nature recovery isn't just about biodiversity; it has real implications for our health and wellbeing. In this episode Joseph Gent joins the podcast to talk to Emeritus Prof Michael Depledge CBE DSc FRSB FRCP who is one of the founding members of the European Centre for the Environment and Human Health. (www.ECEHH.org). The ECEHH was the first Centre of its kind in Europe and pioneered much of the early work on fostering health and wellbeing using the natural environment (from around 2008 onwards).

Michael has a distinguished background as a marine biologist and has been Visiting Professor at the Department of Zoology, Oxford University and at University College, London. He is a former Commissioner of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution and former Chief Scientist of the Environment Agency of England and Wales.

In this episode we talk more about the link between nature and human health, the importance of our oceans and rivers to our health and the complexity of understanding and prescribing nature to improve wellbeing. You can also find Michael's talk to the Centre here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YibF3k8tWX8&ab_channel=OxfordBiodiversityNetwork

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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Patrick Greenfield is a biodiversity and environment reporter for the Guardian and the Observer.  In January 2023, a joint investigation by the Guardian, Die Zeit and Source Material found that the forest carbon offsets approved by the world’s leading certifier and used by major corporations for climate claims are largely worthless.

In this podcast we discuss some of the implications and dive into the challenges and complexities of wanting to do the right thing in a world where conservation for profit now exists.
You can hear more from Patrick at his Leverhulme Talk here:
https://youtu.be/YpuFaU99mQ8

The original article referenced is here:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/18/revealed-forest-carbon-offsets-biggest-provider-worthless-verra-aoe

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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In this espisode we speak to Nat Duffus to find out the good and the bad about Biodiversity Net Gain which is a major driver of the UK's policy to improve the state of biodiversity whilst still allowing for development. Some of the things mentioned in this podcast include:
Kidbrooke Village: https://www.berkeleygroup.co.uk/news-and-insights/news-and-features/2020/kidbrooke-village-wins-attenborough-awards

Lye Valley
http://www.friendsoflyevalley.org.uk/about/index.html

and of course the bombadier beetle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3sxJNt8CYw&ab_channel=BBCEarth

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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In this episode we have a debate between Kate Raworth, Bob Costanza and Eric Gòmez-Baggethun on Monetary Valuation of Nature: pragmatic conservation or unhelpful commodification?

This is an edited version of a debate that took place at the Oxford Martin School in February 2023. You can find the fill video of it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl7wSuAuKyQ&ab_channel=OxfordBiodiversityNetwork
    

Notes:
The valuation of nature and ecosystem services in monetary units plays a central role in many forms of environmental governance, including in carbon and biodiversity markets and offsetting schemes which are increasingly under scrutiny. The idea of using monetary units to value nature has precipitated significant debate, with proponents contending that it represents a pragmatic and realist approach to accounting for the environment in decision-making processes, unlocking substantial funding for conservation, while others argue that it can lead to a commodification of nature that ultimately proves inequitable and ineffective in addressing environmental challenges. In the spirit of developing a constructive dialogue on the issue, Kate Raworth will moderate a discussion between two ecological economists, Robert Costanza and Erik Gomez-Baggethun, who will explore the debates and tensions associated with using monetary units to value nature and ecosystem services and role such valuations play in contemporary environmental governance.

Kate Raworth
Kate is an economist focused on making economics fit for the 21st century. Her best-selling book Doughnut Economics: seven ways to think like a 21st century economist has been translated into 20 languages. She is co-founder of Doughnut Economics Action Lab, working with cities, business, communities, governments and educators to turn Doughnut Economics from a radical idea into transformative action. She teaches at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute and is Professor of Practice at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.

Robert Costanza
Robert (PhD, FASSA, FRSA) is a professor of Ecological Economics at the Institute for Global Prosperity, University College London and an Adjunct Professor at the College of Business and Economics, University of Tasmania. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, an Honorary Professor at the Australian National University, an Affiliate Fellow at the Gund Institute at the University of Vermont, and a deTao Master of Ecological Economics at the deTao Masters Academy in Shanghai, an Overseas Expert in the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and an Ambassador of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll). He is co-founder and past-president of the International Society for Ecological Economics, and founding editor of Ecological Economics. He is founding editor-in-chief of Solutions and editor in chief of The Anthropocene Review. Professor Costanza’s transdisciplinary research integrates the study of humans and the rest of nature to address research, policy and management issues at multiple time and space scales, from small watersheds to the global system.
His areas of expertise include: ecological economics, ecosystem services, landscape ecology, integrated ecological and socioeconomic modelling, energy and material flow analysis, environmental policy, social traps and addictions, incentive structures and institutions. He is the author or co-author of over 600 scientific papers and 30 books.

Erik Gomez-Baggethun
Erik is a Professor of Environmental Governance at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, a Senior Visiting Researcher at the University of Oxford, and a senior scientific advisor at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. He has taught courses and modules in ecological economics at the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge and other universities in Europe and Latin America. His research covers diverse topics in ecological econ

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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In this episode we talk to Dr. Joseph Bull, Associate Professor in Climate Change Biology at the University of Oxford and find out what is meant by the term Nature Positive. We look at reasons for pragmatic optimism in the face of biodiversity decline and find out more about his work in the Aral Sea and why deserts are not as deserted as you might think.

You can see a full version of Jo speaking at the Leverhulme Centre at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLSWXIb2ycM

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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Professor Ian Mell discusses how green infrastructure has moved from the margins of planning into mainstream conversation. He explains the political, economic and cultural barriers to delivery in the UK, cautions about uncritical reliance on markets and offsets, and highlights lessons from Asian cities where ambitious, large-scale projects and data-driven delivery have driven visible change. The episode explores equity, climate adaptation, placemaking and how to combine technical valuation with everyday lived experience to make green infrastructure work for communities.

Guest
Ian Mell, Professor of Environmental and Landscape Planning, University of Manchester. Author of The Growing Green Infrastructure in Contemporary Asian Cities.

Host
Wendee Zhang, Postdoctoral researcher at Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery working on projects investigating the health/wellbeing benefits of urban green and blue spaces.

Key takeaways

• Green infrastructure is now part of national conversation but delivery and funding remain inconsistent across the UK.
• Economic valuation helps enter conversations with funders but cannot capture all environmental value. Markets and offsets need careful scrutiny.
• Asian cities provide rapid, large-scale experiments in GI that the UK can learn from, particularly on urban regeneration and converting failing infrastructure into green space.
• Lived experience matters. Simple design elements: shade, seating, lighting, bins, playgrounds; often determine whether green space is used and benefits well-being.
• Political will and long-term funding are essential. Short political cycles and fear of failure limit bold local investment.
• Climate adaptation and social justice must be addressed together to ensure equitable access to benefits.

You can also see Ian's lecture that he gave to the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery 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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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Nature finance is often presented as a solution to biodiversity loss but what does it actually mean?

In this episode of the Nature Recovery Podcast, David Goodman speaks with Dr. Alice Stuart, a postdoctoral researcher at Oxford’s School of Geography and the Environment. Alice’s research maps and analyses public, private, and philanthropic finance flows into conservation across the UK.

They explore:

• Why most conservation funding still comes from public sources
• The role of philanthropy and corporate funding
• Why private investors are hesitant to fund nature
• How Biodiversity Net Gain and habitat banking work
• The risks of reducing biodiversity to a metric
• Goodhart’s Law and “gaming” environmental targets
• Why democratising nature finance requires local empowerment

Alice argues that the key issue isn’t how much money flows into nature but whether it goes to the right places, empowers the right people, and delivers meaningful ecological outcomes.

Find out more about Alice's work and view their outputs on mapping financial flows here:
https://naturerecovery.ox.ac.uk/people/alice-stuart/

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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In this episode we talk to Dr Keith Kirby MBE about Wytham Woods, a Thames Valley hill of limestone, ancient woodland and one of the most intensively studied woodland sites in the world. Keith traces the site’s deep history (a coral reef 150 million years ago), the human influence on the landscape over centuries, and the key decisions that shaped the wood we see today: enclosure and planting by estate owners, the university bequest in the 1940s, and the later tussles between foresters and ecologists over management.

Keith shares highlights from decades of scientific monitoring: the bird-box programme started in 1947 (now over 1,000 boxes), permanent 10×10 m vegetation plots set up in the 1970s and remeasured repeatedly, badger and small-mammal studies, and how changing deer numbers and later ash dieback altered forest dynamics. He reflects on the practical lessons — how deer control enabled ground flora recovery, how some management mistakes left long legacies, and the rare moments of continuity (including recent tree plantings by the family of Charles Elton). Keith also points out the small, poignant human stories inside the woods: WWI practice trenches under a spring carpet of bluebells, and the rediscovery of rare plants.

The Wytham Woods Book is here:
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/wytham-woods-9780197610602?cc=gb&lang=en&

And you can find more information about visiting the wood here:
https://www.wythamwoods.ox.ac.uk/visit
and you can find the guidebook here:
https://www.wythamwoods.ox.ac.uk/shop

To here more from Keith you can watch his lecture here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICD4B3d28b8

or read his popular blog here:
https://theoldmanofwytham.com/

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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In this episode Elizabeth Bock speaks with Dr Molly Grace (University of Oxford), co-chair of the IUCN Green Status of Species working group. The conversation explains how the Green Status complements the Red List by measuring species recovery, not just extinction risk. Molly unpacks the three components of recovery (distribution, viability, functionality), explains how the assessment quantifies the impact of conservation actions, and outlines how the Green Status can be used for national reporting under the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Key takeaways

• The Green Status answers a question the Red List does not: what does recovery look like, and how much has conservation achieved so far.
• Recovery is measured using three components: distribution (pre-impact vs current range), viability (extinction risk), and functionality (ability to perform ecological roles).
• The assessment includes a counterfactual element: it estimates what recovery would look like without past conservation, making conservation impact visible.
• Baselines matter and are contested; the Green Status uses a pre-impact baseline within the past 500 years to allow standardised comparison.
• Early priorities include improving taxonomic coverage (beyond charismatic vertebrates) and piloting national reporting with countries such as Indonesia and South Africa.

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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In this episode of the Nature Recovery Podcast, Stephen Thomas speaks with Professor Seirian Sumner, one of the world’s leading experts on social insects and a passionate advocate for rethinking our relationship with wasps. Seirian reveals how a reluctant PhD choice turned into a 25-year research career uncovering the remarkable societies, behaviours and ecological roles of these misunderstood insects.

Together, they explore how social evolution unfolds inside a wasp colony, why wasps are essential apex predators, and how their potential in pollination and pest control has been overlooked. Seirian explains the cultural and scientific biases that favour bees over wasps, describes global efforts to understand their ecological value, and offers simple ways to coexist with the wasps at your picnic. The conversation ranges from Malaysian rainforests to Brazilian drone-released parasitoids, and from the evolution of altruism to the future of nature recovery.

This episode will change the way you see wasps — perhaps even help you appreciate them.

About Seirian Sumner

 Professor Seirian Sumner is a behavioural ecologist at University College London whose research combines field biology, behavioural experiments and genomics to understand how animal societies evolve. She is co-founder of the Big Wasp Survey and Soapbox Science, championing public engagement and women in STEM. Her award-winning book, Endless Forms, invites readers to rethink wasps entirely — from feared picnic pests to extraordinary, essential, and ecologically vital creatures.

Endless Forms by Seirian Sumner:
https://www.williamcollinsbooks.co.uk/products/endless-forms-the-secret-world-of-wasps-seirian-sumner-9780008394479/

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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Professor David Farrier (University of Edinburgh) discusses his 2025 book Nature’s Genius: Evolution’s Lessons for a Changing Planet and explores how rapid, human-driven evolutionary pressures reveal both the fragility and inventive resilience of life. We cover urban evolution (birds and snails), domestication and self-domestication, collective and distributed forms of intelligence across living systems, and how rethinking time can help us reconnect with the natural world. The conversation balances urgency with hope: we can change behaviour and systems  - not by waiting for nature to “fix” things, but by learning from nature’s adaptive strategies.

Key takeaways:

• Human activities are now major selection pressures shaping evolution — sometimes rapidly.
• Plasticity (the ability of organisms to change gene expression and behaviour) offers insights for human adaptation — e.g., city design, economies, conservation strategies.
• Intelligence in nature is often collective and co-evolved; viewing ecosystems as forms of distributed intelligence could reshape politics and policy.
• Time matters: reframing our relationship with temporal scales (wild clocks vs. clock time) supports long-term thinking and reconnection.
• Nature recovery begins with “nature reconnection” — shifting how we see ourselves (embedded, not separate).

Guest bio (brief):
David Farrier is Professor of Literature and the Environment at the University of Edinburgh. His first book, Footprints: In Search of Future Fossils, examined the marks we are leaving on the planet and how they might appear in the deep-future fossil record; it was named a book of the year by both The Times and The Telegraph and has been translated into multiple languages. His new book Nature’s Genius (2025) examines how life adapts under human-caused change and what lessons that offers for our own future and has been shortlisted for major awards.

Buy the book / further reading:
Nature’s Genius: Evolution’s Lessons for a Changing Planet — Canongate Books. Available as hardback, e-book and audio; shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Conservation Writing (and other 2025 recognitions). More details / purchase: https://canongate.co.uk/books/4911-natures-genius-evolution-039-s-lessons-for-a-changing-planet/
 

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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.

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In this episode of the Nature Recovery Podcast, Vittorio Anah speaks with Camilla Burrow, the Chief Executive of the local environmental charity Wild Oxfordshire. Camilla explains the work Wild Oxfordshire has done and is planning do.

Wild Oxfordshire are supporting The Nature Festival which happens in Oxford 21-27 June 2026.
https://thenaturefestival.org/
 

They explore:

• Camilla’s experience running Wild Oxfordshire
• What the charity is involved with currently
• How Wild Oxfordshire chooses its projects 
• How success is measured for an environmental charity 
• The current state of Oxfordshire’s environmental organisation landscape 
• The biggest challenges facing Wild Oxfordshire and organisations like it
• The importance of coordination and collaboration between environmental charities in Oxfordshire
• The long term vision for Wild Oxfordshire

Find out more about Camilla and Wild Oxfordshire’s work 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 podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.

The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.