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Learning from best practice in sustainable governance performance

Learning from best practice in sustainable governance performance

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Published on 21 May 2024

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Research team

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A profile picture of Sophie Stenson

Sophie Stenson – University of Exeter

A profile picture of Co-Investigator Oliver James

Dr Oliver James – University of Exeter

A profile picture of Co-Investigator Lewis Elliott

Dr Lewis Elliot – University of Exeter

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Partners

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Collaborators

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Aims

Renewing biodiversity will require a workforce with the right skills, knowledge and experience. Relatively little is currently known about the nature workforce or how it might develop in future. The rapidly expanding nature recovery sector is facing a skills shortage and relies on many forms of voluntary contributions, from citizen participation to donations, the impact and extent of which is poorly understood.  

This PhD research aims to:  

  • Understand the nature workforce – how has it changed over time, and how will it need to change in future in order to meet our biodiversity goals?   
  • Explore the barriers and motivations for people to get involved in nature recovery work.  
  • Learn the lessons from sustainable governance initiatives trialled elsewhere.  

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Approach

This PhD research will use data from sector jobs board Conservation Careers to map the UK nature workforce, including voluntary contributions. Qualitative research will help understand the barriers and motivations for participation in nature recovery, and how strategic decision tools could support citizen participation and engagement with nature recovery. These tools help decision-makers consider factors in addition to economic growth, such as environmental health or social equity, and are important for local community planning processes to achieve sustainable governance. Research into successful UK and international examples will explore how decision-makers have incorporated nature recovery into their wider strategic planning and how we can spread best practices at different levels from local to international governance.

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Next steps

This research is ongoing. We hope it will inform the use of strategic decision-support tools and help spread best practice in how these tools can affect public participation in nature recovery.  


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renew@exeter.ac.uk