Political Ecology, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services

The Political Ecology, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services (PEBES) research group provides a collaborative focus for the Geography Department’s work on environmental conservation, the social (re)production of nature and resource management. It builds on two traditions in the Department: one in critical political ecology and the other a more biodiversity and policy-oriented focus on natural capital and ecosystem services mapping, monitoring and modelling.

Our interests lie within and at the interface of these and in developing a more critical approach to ecosystem services and associated concepts. New areas are bound to develop, but our research is anticipated to focus on the following key themes:

• Different approaches to biodiversity conservation (e.g. ecosystem services; nature-based solutions)
• Relationship between the governance and management of environmental resources and development
• Political Ecology and the financialisaton of nature and natural capital