To conserve species, we need to understand not only which species need action, but the effective actions they need.
A recent study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology has brought together two of the world's largest sources of conservation knowledge to assess, for the first time, whether the actions being taken for amphibians, birds and mammals are likely to be effective.
Ash Simkins, lead author of the study, is a final year PhD student here in Zoology. Primarily based in our Conservation Evidence Group, his research is funded by the NERC C-CLEAR Doctoral Training Programme.
His work is focussed on which conservation actions are most effective for a wide range of animal species by combining expert knowledge and evaluations of conservation impacts to determine the effective actions that species need.
He explores which conservation actions are most effective for a wide range of animal species by combining expert knowledge and evaluations of conservation impacts to determine the effective actions that species need.
Here, Ash explains the study’s importance and how he came to conduct it:
Building evidence for action
In our paper, we combine the largest datasets on species’ expert knowledge of existing and required actions with empirical evidence of their effectiveness for all species of amphibians, birds and mammals for the first time, to assess the likely effectiveness of current conservation efforts and plans.
Good news! We found evidence suggesting that most broad types of conservation actions can be effective. There is lots of evidence of direct management actions (such as habitat and species management), but fewer tests of enabling actions, such as law and policy, and awareness-raising actions. Alternative evaluation methods, such as quasi-experimental and qualitative approaches, can help build this evidence base.
Most species with existing actions were only found in protected areas. While protected areas remain vital, many species require additional forms of management and protection if they are to recover. This gap between actions already being implemented and those identified as necessary helps explain the steep biodiversity declines globally.
However, it also gives us hope; we already know the actions many species need and which are effective. This information can help guide conservation organisations and policymakers toward more effective decisions and hopefully better outcomes for biodiversity.
Why Zoology?
I became interested in Zoology after keeping pet Chinchillas as a child, and finding out they are Endangered in the wild (first introduction to the IUCN Red List), plus growing up on the edge of the Peak District. This led me to want to study Zoology.
I went to state schools and it was my sixth form that encouraged me to consider undergraduate at Cambridge, with the museum of zoology in particular standing out to me on the open days (the David Attenborough Building didn’t exist then!).
I then specialised in ecology and conservation as I wanted to focus my career on understanding how better to conserve species to prevent their extinction both so we can continue to learn about them and the incredible things they do across all areas of Zoology, but also so others can continue to enjoy them for future generations.
Journey to PhD
A summer research project on the cleaning ability of pond skaters in in the summer between my 2nd and 3rd year of my undergraduate studies, inspired me to aim for a PhD.
I was initially unsuccessful, so I did a MSc at the University of East Anglia to gain further skills, undertaking my MSc project with Birdlife and the RSPB. I then applied to both PhDs and conservation jobs. I was shortlisted but still unsuccessful in getting a funded PhD place. However, I did get a position at Birdlife providing technical support to their science work, particularly on Important Bird and biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and global biodiversity metrics, which I was also luck enough to undertake some research within the role. I really enjoyed this role and was happy to remain on the NGO side (rather than academic side) of conservation.
But there was always that desire to do a PhD. I really wanted to continue learning about animals and the natural world. I also love teaching. I even did supervisions when I was at Birdlife for the undergraduate course here in Cambridge for the Part II applied ecology module. I therefore designed my own project for a PhD, based on my experience in conservation, and was successfully funded by NERC and rejoined his department.
What next?
I have just submitted the PhD, I am applying for postdoctoral research positions with the hope to one day lead my own research group aiming to better understand and inform species recovery, working with conservationists to ensure application and utility.
Read more:
Simkins, A. T., Sutherland, W. J., Petrovan, S. O., Brooks, T. M., Butchart, S. H. M., Christie, A. P., Hilton-Taylor, C., Hoffmann, M., Senior, R. A., Turvey, S. T., Waite, C. E., & Dicks, L. V. (2026). Effectiveness of current and potential conservation actions for amphibians, birds and mammals. Journal of Applied Ecology, 63, e70555. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.70555
Find more of our postgraduate students’ stories here.
Image: Majorcan midwife toad. Photo by tuurio and wallie (Wikimedia Commons) Populations of this species are slowly increasing (after declines to near extinction) following captive breeding and reintroduction, habitat protection and invasive species removal, Find out more
This article was originally posted on the Department of Zoology website on 11.9.2026: https://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/news/mind-gap-new-research-helps-identify-actions-species-need