The first of the Valuing Nature Keynote Lecture Series will be given by Dr Paul Jepson from the University of Oxford. Dr Jepson is a Senior Research Fellow at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment and Course Director of the Oxford MSc in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management.
Dr Paul Jepson Lecture 'Rewilding and the Uplands: Perspectives on Valuing Nature’
Lecture Abstract
Britain is among the most ecologically degraded nations on Earth. Compared to other regions of Europe, the natural assets of our uplands appear run down and less able to generate the diverse forms of value that connect upland culture and economy and wider society. It seems that our institutions have come to accept, protect and indeed value impoverishment in nature and landscape. Rewilding is an optimistic agenda for a better future: one that calls for investment in the restoration of natural assets and policies that work with natural processes.
In this lecture I will introduce seven principles that are coming to characterise rewilding as a complementary approach to nature conservation and wider environmental management. I will outline the trends in science and society that the principles embody and suggest that rewilding represents both an opportunity and a desire to create new natural heritage -functional ecosystem assets able to generate multiple forms of value and that will become part of the heritage of the future. If Brexit means ‘CAPexit’ I will suggest that we have a once in a generation opportunity to move beyond a land-policy based on agricultural subsidies and develop a National Land Asset Policy that (alongside agriculture) provides public support for landowners wishing to invest in ecosystem land assets that generate long-term public benefit values.
The event is hosted by Defra at Nobel House in London, SW1P 3JR.
The 45 minute lecture will be followed by responses from the following Panelists:
Michael Winter (Chair) - Professor of Land Economy and Society, and the Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute (LEEP). Member of Valuing Nature Programme Co-ordinating Team
Julia Aglionby - Executive Director of the Foundation for Common Land.
Robin Milton - Exmoor farmer and Chair of the NFU Hill and Uplands Farming group.
Guy Duke - Member of Valuing Nature Programme Co-ordinating Team and Deputy Chair of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
Delegates will be encouraged to take part in a Q&A session to round off the evening and refreshments will be available.
Sign up HERE - Now SOLD OUT but you can register for the waiting list.
Delegates should allow 20 minutes to pass through Defra security prior to the meeting. If you are unable to attend please inform info@valuing-nature.net so we may re-allocate the place.