The Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery

Our latest podcast, 'Cull of the Wild' with Hugh Warwick on the Ethics of Killing for Conservation, is out now. 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. https://lnkd.in/ewSw4Ywk

On Friday, Jules Pretty gave us a fascinating talk exploring how narrative, storytelling, and culture can transform climate action, nature recovery, and biodiversity conservation. Yadvinder Malhi has written a reflection on the talk, which you can read here, along with the recording of the talk. https://lnkd.in/ePhnnEKS

While I was in Oxford a few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down for a delightful chinwag with my friend and colleague Sophus zu Ermgassen — to talk about the #EcologicalEconomics of #Sharks 🦈💸— for the European Society for Ecological Economics podcast: #EconomicsForRebels. We talked about all the various bio-centric and utilitarian value associated with sharks (and their cartilaginous mates), bycatch in small-scale fisheries, corporate biodiversity impacts and accountability, the fin & meat trade, supply- and demand-side drivers of overexploitation, the role of dive tourists and seafood consumers, behavioural sciences, incentives, field experiments, causal inference, crowding-in, crowding-out, financing mechanisms, fair division of the (opportunity) costs of conservation, equitable conservation and much more 🤓 Give it a listen here: https://lnkd.in/gY3dZwfn And, if you’re interested in reading more about any of the research I mention, you can find: 👩🏻🏫 An accessible summary of my #PhD research findings here (including links to papers): https://lnkd.in/gdXA6uHF? 📄 My latest paper on our RCT of marine conservation incentives here: https://lnkd.in/gjztwNAM. 💙 More info on our non-profit community-based programs here: https://lnkd.in/gH7nrWdV #conservation #research #biodiversity #economics #impactevaluation #marineconservation Department of Biology, University of Oxford The Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery Bangor University Biodiversity Challenge Funds Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science

It was a pleasure to host you Diana Gusta, we've learnt a lot from your research. If you're interested to learn more about #RightsOfNature you can read some of Diana's work here: https://lnkd.in/eKc_T2f8

We’re delighted to congratulate our Centre Director, Professor Yadvinder Malhi, on receiving the Ramon Margalef Prize in Ecology — one of the most prestigious international honours in the field. 🌿 This award recognises Yadvinder’s pioneering research on tropical forest ecosystems, his integration of functional and biodiversity perspectives, and his global leadership in building collaborative, long-term ecological research networks. At the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, we’re proud to work alongside such an inspiring scientist and advocate for global equity in research. 🔗 Read more here https://lnkd.in/eZT_Bk7m

🧠🌿 Want real change in conservation? In this talk, Brock Bergseth shows how behavioral science—not just awareness—can drive lasting environmental action. Learn what works & why. Watch now https://lnkd.in/e_KFrBfN @ecioxford.bsky.social @biology.ox.ac.uk

New research reveals that Africa’s wildlife ecosystems are running on less than two-thirds of the power they once had – threatening the vitality of the continent’s landscapes and the livelihoods they support. Africa’s ecosystems are running on less than two-thirds of the natural energy they once had, according to new Oxford-led research published today in Nature. The study reveals a dramatic loss of wildlife “power” across the continent – the energy that drives vital ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling and seed dispersal – posing growing risks to biodiversity and the livelihoods that depend on it. These findings come as world leaders prepare for COP30 in Brazil next month, where nature and climate will be in focus. By mapping how energy flows through African wildlife food webs, the researchers found that total ecological energy has fallen by more than one-third since pre-colonial times, largely due to the decline of large-bodied species such as elephants, rhinos, and lions that once shaped and sustained the continent’s ecosystems. "The loss of animal energy flow is not just an ecological story: it’s a Planet Earth story. It connects the fate of individual species to the functioning and stability of the biosphere itself." Notes Yadvinder Malhi , co-author of the study and Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery Centre Director Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e3FyVDNs

🌍 New TED Talk from Yadvinder Malhi, Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery Director. Professor Yadvinder Malhi has just released his TED Talk, 'How to Measure the Planet’s Heartbeat'. He takes us on a fascinating journey through the flows of energy that sustain life on Earth — from tropical forests to island ecosystems — and shows why understanding these patterns is vital for protecting our planet’s living systems. 🎥 Watch the full talk here:  https://lnkd.in/euinThRb