I work in the Department of Biology coordinating a global network of universities signing up to start a Nature Positive journey, in collaboration with UNEP and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Universities will carry out baseline biodiversity studies of their campuses, operations and supply chain impacts, then set targets and prioritise actions for nature using the Conservation Hierarchy. I am inspired by the concept of “Nature Positive” to highlight the challenge and journey required to restore ecosystems, species and habitats to complement transitions to net zero carbon.
My background is as a biological anthropologist and I am fascinated by how people interact and engage with their environments and fellow species, and how to harness motivation to tackle our global challenges such as climate change, social justice and biodiversity loss. I have worked in sustainability for almost ten years, helping to develop the One Planet Living framework, low impact housing, and alternative paper and fibre sources, such as hemp textiles with environmental group Bioregional and a consortium of research partners. I also collaborate with the Oxford Treescapes project, working with Oxfordshire parishes and landowners to promote nature recovery on their land.
