Explore research activities in the Biodiversity Solutions theme related to terrestrial ecosystems. Names shown indicate authors or co-authors involved from the Centre of Conservation and Restoration Science.
Navigate to more Biodiversity Solutions research activities: All | Freshwater | Marine
Conservation
Conservation refers to the preservation and management of natural habitats and ecosystems, and to the enabling of the survival and evolution of species. More recently, conservation action is also sometimes considered for novel habitats and their inhabitants, such as substrate discarded from mining.
Projects
Conservation of threatened smooth-coated otters in a heavily modified landscape in western India
Publications
Restoration/Rehabilitation/Rewilding/Enhancement
Solutions to the biodiversity crisis need to include not only conservation, but also restoration, rehabilitation and/or rewilding of ecosystems, given the magnitude of destruction caused. The term restoration has traditionally been used to describe actions which aimed to return a system to its original state, re-establishing the species that have been lost, and ecosystem functions and services. More recently, it has also been applied to attempts to restore ecosystem functionality and services even when species cannot return (sometimes also called rehabilitation). Rewilding also focuses on key ecological functions but emphasises relinquishment of human control. Ecological enhancement aims to improve the environmental conditions for species, for example, by installing a bird box or a green wall, whilst protecting human health and the environment.
Projects
Publications
Nature-Based Solutions & Grey-Green Solutions, Ecological Engineering, Circular Economy
Nature-based solutions (NBS) are inspired and supported by nature. They aim to provide a harmonised solution to benefit the environment, society and economy, ensuring resilience to future change. An example is to plant mangrove forests to reduce the impact of storm surges. A grey-green solution to the same issue would be the use of artificial structures and mangroves in concert. Ecological engineering has been defined as the imitation or design of ecosystems for the mutual benefit of humans and nature. Circular economy aims to stop the production of waste by a transition to renewable energy and reusable materials.
Projects
Publications
Behavioural or Policy Change
Solutions to the biodiversity crisis will have to involve individual and collective behaviour change that overcomes psychological, cultural, economic, business, and political barriers. Regenerative tourism for example aims at proactively making an area ecologically better, as opposed to just sustaining it, whilst enriching local communities and offering transformative visitor experience. To help communicate science and achieve behavioural and transformative cultural change, the centre is using methods from the social sciences, psychology and the arts and creative industries.
Projects
Producing and evaluating tools of climate communication for change agents
Children's Literature and Science
Publications