News

A new study published in Royal Society Open Science reveals the significant potential of leveraging existing systematic evidence databases to mitigate hazards in the global food system. The research was led by Dr David Willer and Dr Silviu O Petrovan, who are based in the Department of Zoology and the Conservation Research Institute, with a team fr…

The Conservation Research Instiute's  Professor Ed Turner and Professor Lynn Dicks attended the 7th International Conference on Oil Palm and the Environment, in Bali, Indonesia in February. The theme of the conference was 'Oil palm agro-ecological transformation: towards climate- and nature-positive agriculture'.This conference is an important plat…

Marina Melanidis awarded King Charles III Coronation MedalGeography and CRI PhD student Marina Melanidis has been awarded the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal for her "significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings cred…

Birds across Eastern England's arable landscapes are thriving on solar farms managed with nature in mind. Research by scientists from the RSPB and University of Cambridge as part of the Centre for Landscape Regeneration has found that UK solar farms managed for nature could benefit birds, including threatened species like Corn Buntings, Greenfinche…

A new study carried out by Julián Tijerín-Triviño (Universidad de Alcala) during a visit with Dr Emily Lines (Department of Geography and CRI) has found that climate change is threatening the ability of European forests to sequester carbon.Using forest survey data from the 1990s to 2020 from >13,900 plots in Mediterranean, temperate and boreal regi…

A recent paper published in the journal Science, co-authored by Prof Andrew Balmford and other members of the Dept of Zoology’s Conservation Science Group, calls on the global community to recognise that rewilding productive farmland or forestry in industrialised nations may do more harm than good on a planetary scale.Exploratory analysis by the te…

Experts say a focus on re-wetting our parched peat would significantly dampen down the UK’s fire-driven carbon emissions and help mitigate against climate changeA new study led by the University of Cambridge has revealed that as our springs and summers get hotter and drier, the UK wildfire season is being stretched and intensified. More fires, taki…

Lynn Dicks appeared in a panel session at the Oxford Farming Conference on 10th January, discussing Nature Friendly Farming from a business and sustainability perspective.  "Unlocking the Business Potential of Nature of Friendly Farming":https://www.ofc.org.uk/video/rspb-unlocking-business-potential-nature-friendly-farmingThe panel:Chair: Beccy Spe…

Researchers have released 'GreenLens', a free app that uses AI to measure the diameter of tree trunks. It works with a high degree of accuracy – yet runs on a cheap, second-hand Android phone. The GreenLens app is aimed at anyone with an interest in protecting and restoring forests, from governments and NGOs to landowners and environmental scientis…

Prof. Bill Sutherland CBE FRS has collected a prestigious prize in recognition of his pioneering contributions to conservation science. He was awarded the International Cosmos Prize at a ceremony in Japan last term. Professor Sutherland, who is a member of the Conservation Research Institute and Director of Research at the University of Cambridge’s…

Rachael Garrett, Moran Professor of Conservation and Development at the Department of Geography and Director of the Conservation Research Institute, has joined the Joint Committee of the UK's Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) as an independent member. This is a public appointment made through an application and competition.JNCC is the only…

We have an exciting set of speakers for Lent Term 2025 CCI Conservation Seminars - check out the poster.  Regularly check the CRI website for updates - titles, abstracts, speaker biographies, and links to sign up for Zoom links.15th January1-2 pmSiddarth Shrikanthauthor of The Case for Nature: Pioneering Solutions for the Other Planetary Crisis.Mak…

Knowing what influences individuals' decisions to adopt sustainable land-use practices can guide strategies to encourage these. For example, by helping practitioners and policymakers evaluate levers and potential barriers to adoption in a specific context. However, such individuals' decisions are complex and the understanding of drivers of sustaina…

Like many other parts of nature, green spaces in cities are increasingly seen through the lens of how much they contribute to economic growth. This way of looking at urban green spaces follows the broader pragmatic discourse that increasingly links nature to economics and corporate interests. Many concepts have challenged the neoliberal economic ag…

Invasive pests are slipping unnoticed into northern Europe in huge shipments of cut flowers and potted plants, with potential to damage food crops and the natural environment.Continental European snakes, geckos and Italian wall lizards are making their way to northern Europe undetected among imports of ornamental olive trees destined for gardens an…