The Nature Recovery Podcast looks at some of the major challenges we face to global biodiversity. It takes a look at the various ways we are trying to halt the decline in biodiversity and the challenges inherent in these approaches. We also talk to a number of leading figures in the field of Nature Recovery and find out more about their work.
Stephen is the centre manager of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery. When not working on nature based solutions, podcasts or organizing meeting he spends time in woodlands and also runs a sauna business at weekends and gets involved with a number of community schemes:
https://www.saunagus.co.uk/
He's passionate about ancient woodland and increasing nature connection in society.
Hello, I’m Dr Caitlin Hafferty, a postdoctoral researcher in environmental social science based at the Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford.
I am a researcher and expert in public and stakeholder engagement in environmental decision-making, and I am passionate about championing the contributions of social sciences to nature recovery.
Mattia aims to broaden the analysis of mainstream conservation initiatives from a socio-ecological perspective by looking at the feasibility of a more ecologically-informed and socio-economic just climate governance. He has always been passionate about social justice and great care for the environment with a particular focus on the Political Economy of the Environment as key exploration area in his undergrad experience.
In his MPhil studies, he’s been looking at the potential of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in stimulating community-led conservation practices. His MPhil research area focuses on community-grounded aesthetic sensibilities of nature recovery in accessible urban green spaces aiming at creating spaces for local ownership of common green spaces by directly enquiring residents, and supporting a planning of accessible green spaces in Oxford which is more equitable and responsive to the needs and values of communities inhabiting those spaces.
Natalie Duffus was recently recognised on the 2024 the Ends Power List as an unsung hero.
A nominator describes her as “a powerhouse in increasing public awareness around the ecological impacts of biodiversity net gain, and how to improve the policy both economically and ecologically”.
As a PhD researcher with the Department of Biology and School of Geography at the University of Oxford, Duffus has published academic papers setting out issues with the scientific integrity of the biodiversity net gain (BNG) metric, proposing ways for improvement.
Raphaella Mascia holds a dual role within the Leverhulme Center for Nature Recovery as both an environmental practitioner and a researcher. She is the monitoring and evaluation manager for the Evenlode Landscape Recovery project and an interdisciplinary environmental researcher, who connects other Leverhulme Center researchers with the Evenlode Landscape Recovery project. In her role as a Leverhulme Center for Nature Recovery researcher, she currently co-leads a project on utilizing available nature finance opportunities to maximize habitat connectivity in agricultural landscapes in the UK, across various scales. .