Landscape Regeneration Solutions to the Interlinked Extinction and Climate Crises that support Sustainable Development
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Plant Sciences
Abstract
Nature-based solutions (NbS*) are responses to societal challenges that involve working with nature to deliver benefits for both people and biodiversity. They include protecting existing ecosystems, restoring degraded ecosystems and managing working lands more sustainably. NbS are of national strategic importance in supporting the UK's net zero climate targets and the Government's ambition to improve the environment within a generation. They have gained international significance too: 131 countries include NbS in their UNFCCC climate change pledges. If well designed and robustly implemented, NbS will deliver multiple benefits for climate change mitigation and adaptation, enhance biodiversity, promote human wellbeing and support economic recovery. The challenge is that the implementation of NbS is often piecemeal, narrow in focus, and undermined by weak research/policy/practice connections. UCam-Regen will redress this problem by applying its breadth of expertise in a practically driven analysis that provides the knowledge and tools needed to address several challenges facing the delivery of NbS:
NbS can contribute significantly to achieving net zero emissions, although the extent of that contribution is limited by the finite amount of land available and critically by the effects of climate change on ecosystems. NbS are not an alternative to decarbonising the economy and must be accompanied by swift, deep emissions cuts; they must be designed with and for local communities; and they must deliver measurable benefits for biodiversity and be designed to be resilient to climate change i.e. a 'whole systems approach' must be applied - as in UCam-Regen - that integrates economies, societies, and nature.
Scaling up, restoration and protection of key ecosystems across UK landscapes requires (a) better protection of natural habitats in the planning system; (b) reforming agriculture and forestry subsidies to better support actions that benefit both climate regulation and biodiversity; (c) connecting habitats across landscapes, building on the emerging Nature Recovery Networks; (d) making it compulsory to build an NbS framework into all new developments, and (e) making space on land for natural systems to adapt to climate change.
There is a need to develop robust metrics to assess the effectiveness of a wide range of NbS for carbon sequestration, water regulation, biodiversity and human wellbeing. Well-designed new financing mechanisms, including tax incentives and public subsidies for ecosystem stewardship that meet the NbS guidelines and support climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation and biodiversity, could be instrumental for upscaling NbS and improving social-ecological resilience to climate change, both in the UK and globally.
UCam-Regen addresses these challenges by applying a whole systems approach to deliver knowledge and tools necessary to regenerate UK landscapes using NbS approaches. At the heart of the proposal is a recognition that local communities must be engaged with decisions regarding their landscape's future and co-produce solutions, informed by scientific assessments of the optimal landscape management approaches to maximise the delivery of ecosystem services.
*We take policy recommendation and definitions from a COP26 Universities Network Briefing led by Prof Coomes https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_790171_smxx.pdf
NbS can contribute significantly to achieving net zero emissions, although the extent of that contribution is limited by the finite amount of land available and critically by the effects of climate change on ecosystems. NbS are not an alternative to decarbonising the economy and must be accompanied by swift, deep emissions cuts; they must be designed with and for local communities; and they must deliver measurable benefits for biodiversity and be designed to be resilient to climate change i.e. a 'whole systems approach' must be applied - as in UCam-Regen - that integrates economies, societies, and nature.
Scaling up, restoration and protection of key ecosystems across UK landscapes requires (a) better protection of natural habitats in the planning system; (b) reforming agriculture and forestry subsidies to better support actions that benefit both climate regulation and biodiversity; (c) connecting habitats across landscapes, building on the emerging Nature Recovery Networks; (d) making it compulsory to build an NbS framework into all new developments, and (e) making space on land for natural systems to adapt to climate change.
There is a need to develop robust metrics to assess the effectiveness of a wide range of NbS for carbon sequestration, water regulation, biodiversity and human wellbeing. Well-designed new financing mechanisms, including tax incentives and public subsidies for ecosystem stewardship that meet the NbS guidelines and support climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation and biodiversity, could be instrumental for upscaling NbS and improving social-ecological resilience to climate change, both in the UK and globally.
UCam-Regen addresses these challenges by applying a whole systems approach to deliver knowledge and tools necessary to regenerate UK landscapes using NbS approaches. At the heart of the proposal is a recognition that local communities must be engaged with decisions regarding their landscape's future and co-produce solutions, informed by scientific assessments of the optimal landscape management approaches to maximise the delivery of ecosystem services.
*We take policy recommendation and definitions from a COP26 Universities Network Briefing led by Prof Coomes https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_790171_smxx.pdf
Organisations
- University of Cambridge (Lead Research Organisation)
- James Hutton Institute (Collaboration)
- UK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGY (Collaboration)
- National Trust (Project Partner)
- Fens for the Future (Project Partner)
- World Wide Fund for Nature (Project Partner)
- University of Cambridge Primary School (Project Partner)
- G's Fresh (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Soil Capital (Project Partner)
- Natural Cambridgeshire (Project Partner)
- McKinsey & Company (Germany) (Project Partner)
- Gold Standard (Project Partner)
- Nottingham College (Project Partner)
- FENS BIOSPHERE (Project Partner)
- Food, Farming and Countryide Commission (Project Partner)
- Cambridgeshire & Peterborough CA (Project Partner)
- Natural England (Project Partner)
- Anglian Water Services (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Water Resources East (Project Partner)
- Cambridge Conservation Forum (Project Partner)
- Cambridgeshire ACRE (Project Partner)
- Forestry Commission England (Project Partner)
- Cervest Limited (Project Partner)
- Middle Level Commissioners (Project Partner)
- Wildlife Trusts (Project Partner)
- Mantle Labs Limited (Project Partner)
- National Farmers Union (Project Partner)
- Environment Agency (Project Partner)
- Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Project Partner)
Publications
Lloyd I
(2023)
State of Knowledge on UK Agricultural Peatlands for Food Production and the Net Zero Transition
in Sustainability
Sutherland William J
(2022)
Transforming Conservation: A Practical Guide to Evidence and Decision Making
Tanentzap A
(2024)
Chemodiversity in freshwater health.
The Prince Of Wales HRH
(2023)
A Ladybird Book: Climate Change
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE/W00495X/1 | 31/01/2022 | 30/01/2027 | |||
| 2748407 | Studentship | NE/W00495X/1 | 30/09/2022 | 29/09/2026 | Liam Wakefield |
| 2730125 | Studentship | NE/W00495X/1 | 30/09/2022 | 30/03/2026 | Neil Mahon |
| Description | CSaP Policy Workshop: Challenges and trade-offs in the Cambridgeshire Fens |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.csap.cam.ac.uk/news/article-challenges-and-trade-offs-cambridgeshire-fens/?preview=1 |
| Description | EU climate Advisory Board co-vice chaired by Professor Laura Diaz Anadon recommends targets for 2040 |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | The impact of this activity is at the level of Europe; this report from the EU's advisory body on climate change provides EU institutions with a science-based estimate of a 2040 climate target and an EU greenhouse gas emissions budget for the period 2030-2050. https://www.landecon.cam.ac.uk/c-eenrg/news/eu-climate-advisory-board-co-vice-chaired-professor-laura-diaz-anadon-recommends |
| URL | https://climate-advisory-board.europa.eu/news/eu-climate-advisory-board-recommends-ambitious-2040-cl... |
| Description | Evidence to the UK's Parliamentary Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on how to stop insect decline |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/event/18028/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/ |
| Description | House of Commons' cross-party Environmental Audit Committee |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/work/6880/sustainable-timber-and-deforestation/news/172336/what-imp... |
| Description | Member and Vice-Chair of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.eea.europa.eu/about-us/climate-advisory-board/ |
| Description | Science, Innovation and Technology Committee call for for new Gov focus on halting the decline of UK insects. |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/135/science-innovation-and-technology-committee/news/2002... |
| Description | Shaun Fitzgerald at COP27 |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | TBC |
| Description | AI for climate and nature |
| Amount | £149,710 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | British Council Climate Connections Visiting Fellowship |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RI2022_03 (Uni ref. G118980) |
| Organisation | British Council |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Description | C-CLEAR summer studentship |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2023 |
| End | 10/2023 |
| Description | EDI funding for CLR |
| Amount | £139,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Description | EDI funding for CLR II |
| Amount | £136,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | Fenland SOIL LAP Water Discovery Pilot |
| Amount | £499,657 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 12/2024 |
| Description | LP3 |
| Amount | £3,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2023 |
| End | 11/2028 |
| Description | Land Use for Net Zero Hub |
| Amount | £7,837,030 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/Y008723/1 |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2023 |
| End | 02/2027 |
| Description | Maximising the impacts and visibility of the CtE Programme: Roadmapping and Communications |
| Amount | £136,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2023 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Description | Soil organic carbon stabilisation in agricultural peatlands |
| Amount | £14,575 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NEOF1618 |
| Organisation | STFC/NERC Bioinformatics & Environmental 'Omics Network |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2023 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| Description | The E-Perceptive Project |
| Amount | £2,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Nokia |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Global |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| Description | The Fenlands are Breathing |
| Amount | £3,100 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Newnham College |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 08/2024 |
| Title | Biodiversity surveys from E Anglan Fens, 2023 |
| Description | • Birds - 60 x 1km line transects, 6645 birds of 101 species recorded • Dragonflies - 149 x 100m line transects, 3811 dragonflies of 24 species recorded • Butterflies - 148 x 200m L-shape transects, 962 butterflies of 19 species recorded • Bumblebees - 148 x 200m L-shape transects, 672 bees of 13 species recorded • Beetles and spiders - c.750 pitfall traps, still being counted but tens of thousands of records. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | None yet; the data are still being analysed |
| Description | LP3 |
| Organisation | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This tender application was led by researchers at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and is the third tranche of funding from Defra to UK CEH in their studies of lowland (agricultural) peat (LP3). The ultimate aims of the project will be to provide Defra, other policymakers and the farming community with best-practice advice on a range of approaches to mitigate GHG emissions from agriculturally used peatlands. The work of LP3 will complement and extend that of the CLR already underway, with itsd focus on the E Anglian Fens, and will provide CLR with novel tools and methods by which to monitor peat health and greenhouse gas emissions. We will colloborate with the partners in LP3, led by CEH, to ensure knowledge exchange and explore the potential for staff secondments both into and outwith the CLR in Cambridge. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The LP3 partnership has only recently commenced and thus far CLR staff have attended the initial kick-off meeting only. |
| Impact | The project has just started; it is too early to list any outcomes. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | LUNZ hub |
| Organisation | James Hutton Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Staff from the CLR are co-applicants on the recently awarded (Jan 2024) UKRI/Defra/DESNZ Land Use for Net Zero (LUNZ) 'hub', which will have an overarching role in the delivery of the UKRI LUNZ research projects, likely to be announced Q2 2024. The LUNZ hub will produce fresh evidence and guidance to drive policy change led by administrations covering all four parts of the UK, with the overall ambition of providing guidance to develop policies that will drive the UK land transformation required to achieve net zero. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The hub has only just been announced and thus far CLR staff have attended kick-off meetings. We anticipate that much greater involvement in the hub will commence in Q2 2024. |
| Impact | None yet; it is too early since the hub has just reached inception |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | AgriFood4NetZero Workshop: Food/Net Zero Nexus in the Fens |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Hosted a Cambridge satellite meeting for the "Food/Net Zero Nexus in the Fens Workshop" with the UKRI AgriFood4NetZero Network. Inc. talk by Chris Evans, Co-I from CLR. March 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Are wetlands our secret weapon for fighting climate change? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Tom Marquand was interviewed on the BBC World Service in an episode of the The Climate Question radio programme called Are wetlands our secret weapon for fighting climate change? In this interview Tom described how the world's wetlands store carbon and can help us tackle some of the impacts of climate change. The radio show also debated whether we are overlooking their importance, and what can be done to protect them more. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5blb |
| Description | COP28 Blue Zone Biosphere event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Dr Shaun Fitzgerald spoke about the work of the Centre for Landscape Regeneration and its role within the University of Cambridge and its focus on climate science at the COP28 Blue Zone in Dubau in December 2023. The event involved an audience drawn from a wide range of countries, representing policy makers, media, the scientific community, and NGOs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | COP28 Blue Zone event in the Higher Education Pavilion |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Dr Shaun Fitzgerald spoke about the work of the Centre for Landscape Regeneration and its role within the University of Cambridge and its focus on climate science at the COP28 Higher Education Pavillion in Dubau in December 2023. The event involved speakers drawn from the UK and Canada, and an audience drawn from a wide range of countries, representing policy makers, media, the scientific community, and NGOs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Cambridge Botanic Garden Newsletter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We were asked to write an article for the Cambridge Botanical Garden, this led to an interesting discussion around their 'Fens' display and then some fieldwork to learn about the soils in the garden. This was then covered in their newsletter. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/CLR_Cambridge/status/1623627377300348928 |
| Description | Cambridge105 Radio Interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Laurie Friday (Programme Manager) and Tom Marquand (PhD student) were interviewed on the breakfast show by a local/regional radio station. Laurie and Tom answered questions about the work of the Cambridge research team and the particular socio-economic and environmental science challenges facing the Fenland. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://cambridge105.co.uk/breakfast-01-03-2023-2/ |
| Description | Cambridgeshire Fens Climate Panel |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Cambridgeshire Fens Climate Panel with Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). Commissioned by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Commission on Climate. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Defra Lowland Peat/BEIS Wasted Peat Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Organised by UKCEH - Chris Evans. Broad stakeholder meeting with wide community of researchers and stakeholders, e.g. DEFRA, BEIS, Wildlife Trusts, Natural England, Environment Agency, FenlandSOIL, ADAS, Farmers, Broads Authority, Local Government as well as a wide variety of academic researchers, including CLR researchers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Fenland wildlife talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Laurie Friday gave a talk, followed by a QnA session, at a Fenland wildlife exhibition in the Cambridgeshire market town of March, as part of a larger exhibition (organised by the Diocese of Ely) displaying art, design and photography work all with a Fenlabd focus. There were a number of small stands from environmental/ wildlife groups providing information on the Fens and its biodiversity (and its problems). Many of the audience were parish, local and county councillors, proividing Dr Friday with a perfect platform from which to engage further with local decision makers on the work of the CLR in the region. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Fens scenario workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Drs Josh Copping and Catherine Waite ran a workshop with 25 key stakeholders to gain their input for Catherine's and Josh's WP3 research (the modelling of future potential land management scenarios) in the CLR work programme. The stakeholders were engaged in in-depth conversations about the future of the Fens, and their just, fair and socioeconomic perspectives of likely accpetability boundaries. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Guardian Interview about carbon credit schemes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Professor Coomes was interviewed by the Guardian newspaper about some recent research on some of the challenges being faced by companies trading in and/or certifying carbon offsetting. Verra have now changed their business model. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/10/biggest-carbon-credit-certifier-replace-rainforest-offsets-scheme-verra-aoe |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/18/revealed-forest-carbon-offsets-biggest-provider-... |
| Description | HotSat-1: UK spacecraft maps heat variations across Earth |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Emily was aked to provide comments on a novel UK satellite that had just returned its first pictures of heat variations across the surface of the Earth, which is particularly important for climate-related matters. Not only was the story covered by thr BBC website, Emily was also interviewed on BBC Radio 4: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001r1ph |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67010377 |
| Description | Hundreds of UK scientists and academics urge Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to prevent any new oil and gas field development |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A letter initiated by Cambridge Zero Director Professor Emily Shuckburgh told the Prime Minister that the latest global report on climate change demonstrates now is the time to channel all our efforts into renewable energy: "Last Monday the IPCC made it clear that immediate action is required to avert a climate catastrophe. Now is the time to be investing in the technologies of the future, not the past." |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.zero.cam.ac.uk/who-we-are/blog/news/hundreds-uk-scientists-and-academics-urge-prime-mini... |
| Description | Joint Oxford/Cambridge workshop on nature recovery in the Scottish Highlands |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a joint workshop between staff from the CLR, the Oxford Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery with disciplinary expertise across ecology, forestry, geography, sociology, land economy, and computation. The intended purpose of the workshop was to facilitate networking, sharing, coordinating, and further research and publications across landscape restoration, regeneration, rewilding and recovery interdisciplinary research, with a focus on the Scottish Highlands. A follow-up event is in the planning stages to be held in Scotland, with Cambridge, Oxford, and Scottish University participation in addition to local research staff from NGOs. The most significant planned impact is a multi-authored article on eco-social research that is currently in development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Natural England East of England presentation by Dr Laurie Friday |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation at the annual meeting of the Natural England East of England team on the challenges of co-ordinating a highly interdisciplinary research team and engaging effectively with stakeholder organisations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Nestle Exec Board Members visited UK farms and Emily spoke at dinner hosted at Trinity Hall. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Nestle Exec Board Members visited UK farms and Emily spoke at dinner hosted at Trinity Hall. Emily was able to raise awareness of the work of the CLR, its funding by UKRI/NERC and the role of the wider University in supporting research on climate, environmental issues and agriculture. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | New website and Twitter account |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | New website and twitter account launched. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/CLR_Cambridge |
| Description | Nurturing nature |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Laurie Friday was interviewed for the Newnham College Roll, an annual printed newsletter sent to any current or past student from Newnham College - the reach of this newsletter is global and is measured in the thousands. Within the article Dr Friday spoke about the work of the CLR in the region, the funding provided by UKRI/NERC and therefore raising the profile of both the Univeristy and the funder in the eyes of the alumni of Newnham College. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Paludiculture: Exploring the way forward for wetter farming in England |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | A workshop was organized and convened in Cambridge in January 2022 in partnership with the National Institute for Agricultural Botany (NIAB), FenlandSOIL and Natural England around the future prospects for paludiculture, ie the potential for farming on re-wetted peatlands. There were approximately 100 attendees over 2 days and speakers from some European countries with large expanses of lowland peat that is or could be used for paludiculture. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.paludiculture.org.uk/event-details/exploring-the-way-forward-for-wetter-farming-in-engla... |
| Description | Practical Soil Science Workshop on Fenland soils |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Two workshops on practical soil science were ran by Dr Katy Faulkener, one to cover the Earith and Manea districts and a second to cover Barway and Pymoor. These events were attended by a key local stakeholder group (Fenland SOIL), local farmers, landowners and a soil surveyor, Rodney Burton. The events were desigmed to train attendees in aspects of soil science in order for landowners to conduct simple experiments on soil health themselves. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation to Natural England licensing team |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation to the Natural England Licensing Team about the range and scope of the CLR project including methods for effective engagement with key stakeholder organisations |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Seminar on Fenland soil |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | With Dr Faulkener, an experienced (50+ years) soil surveyor gave a presentation and Q&A on Fenland soils. The purpose of the activity was to introduce CLR researchers and project leaders to the different soil types in the fens, previous studies and research on fenland soils, and how to sample and describe these soils. The event was highly impactful; firstly, it provided the required background for researchers to select appropriate field sites and develop methodology. Secondly, it was an opportunity to ask questions and queries with an expert in the field, who also provided numerous resources (e.g. maps, guides) which have been very useful to a number of CLR projects. This event was the beginning of an ongoing collaboration between Rodney Burton and CLR researchers which has led to a lot of knowledge exchange. Since this event, further workshops have been hosted with Rodney Burton which have been attended by farmers, landowners, Fenland Soil representatives and academics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Talk at Cambridge Science Festival, 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Shaun Fitzgerald gave a talk at the Cambridge Science Festival 2022 on a theme around the ethics of energy: with the focus on cutting emissions rapidly and the acceleration to NetZero, what are the ethical implication for what is billed as the next global revolution? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.energy.cam.ac.uk/events/cambridge-festival-2022-ethics-energy |
| Description | Talk by Adam Pellegrini |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Adam Pellegrini (Co-I) "New framework for carbon offsets in global drylands" Energy and Environment Group lecture series. March 2023 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Talk by Tom Marquand |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The East Anglia Fens: Crop Productivity and Climate Vulnerability", Cambridge Global Food Security, Coffee Break Seminars, November 2022. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://sms.cam.ac.uk/media/4109817 |
| Description | Talk to Robert Arkenstall Primary School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Our director @emilyshuckburgh talked about the Antarctica and her new ladybird book on #ClimateChange to students at the Robert Arkenstall Primary School. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/CambridgeZero/status/1674769023542624258 |
| Description | Talk to the March Society 'Future-proofing the Fens' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Laurie Friday gave a talk (Solutions for the current challenges facing the Fens landscape and its population, including restoration of biodiversity, are being researched by the Centre's academics and researchers) to the March Society. Dr Friday provided facts and information about the current challenges facing the Fens landscape and its population. She explained that Fenland crops are an essential part of the UK's economy and its food security. However, continuous drying out and shrinkage of this fertile peat land has resulted in the Fens being the UK's highest emitter of the greenhouse gas: carbon dioxide. Solutions for these other urgent local problems, including restoration of biodiversity, are being researched by the CLR's group of academics and researchers, who are working with farmers, landowners, conservation groups, policy makers and local communities to address and mitigate the undesirable effects of our Fenland's unique peat-based farming. Dr Friday was able to raise the profile of the CLR, its research aims, and its funder UKRI/NERC to an important local stakeholder group, and which was also picked up by local print media. Pls see the link below for the article in the Cambs Times on Dr Friday's talk |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.cambstimes.co.uk/news/23896484.cambridge-uni-dr-laurie-friday-future-proofing-fens/?ref=... |
| Description | UK scientists urge Rishi Sunak to halt new oil and gas developments |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | An open letter signed by over 700 leading climate scientists was organised by Prof. E Shuckburgh and delivered to the UK Government asking it to ensure the UK demonstrates international leadership by acting on the latest warnings about the escalating climate crisis. This means including in the forthcoming revised net zero strategy a commitment not to approve any new development of onshore or offshore oil and gas fields. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/29/uk-scientists-rishi-sunak-oil-and-gas-developmen... |
| Description | Varsity Article by Tom Marquand |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | ? T I Marquand & S Salhan (2023), Cambridge at the Bottom of Tripos for Sustainability: Climate Expert breaks down how student climate activists can help, Varsity |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.varsity.co.uk/science/24940/ |
| Description | What do windscreen splats tell us about insect decline? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Prof Lynn Dicks was interviewed on the BBC World Service about the decline in the number of flying insects and how researchers have encouraged citizen scientists to count and report the number of insect 'splats' they find on their windscreen after drivng through rural areas. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5b71 |
| Description | Wicken Fen Open Day for Farmers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Dr Laurie Friday hosted a delegation of Fenland farmers at Wicken Fen to talk to them about conservation and biodiversity in the Fens. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | expert panel to discuss passive cooling in a heating world |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Fitzgerald was a panel member discussing the role of passive colling in the broader context of emissions reduction in tackling climate change. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.csap.cam.ac.uk/news/article-passive-cooling-hotter-world/ |