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Scientists link up to investigate biodiversity

1 April 2004

Ecologists and environmental scientists received £1·8m today to investigate the sustainability of ecosystems, landscapes and livelihoods and how climate change will affect biodiversity in Britain.

The new network links population biology to ecosystem science and economics and is a joint venture between the Natural Environment Research Council (£1·5m) and English Nature (£300k).

It will carry out seven major projects each year and provide a network for scientists, policy makers and practitioners to solve major environmental problems.

Programme Director, Professor Alastair Fitter says "Our environment is undergoing major change. When you set aside a protected area in a fragmented landscape such as Britain, is that sufficient to protect the genetic diversity of its flora and fauna or are they doomed to extinction in the longer term anyway? We expect to find answers to questions like this."

The five universities; Aberdeen, East Anglia, Leeds, Sheffield and York will be joined by the Natural Environment Research Council's Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the whole network will be called UKPopNet.

The group will link population biologists with those tackling socio-economic questions. An important issue is conflict resolution, for example the need to preserve biodiversity set against other pressures on the land and the environment.

Professor Fitter, from the biology department at the University of York, is delighted that English Nature is also supporting the programme.

"It is hugely important to us that they are a partner. They will be one of the end users of our work so this is a valuable sign that what we are doing is useful and important."

Head of Science at English Nature, Dr Kevin Charman says "The major challenge facing nature conservation, both on the land and in the sea, is how wildlife populations, communities and habitats will respond to future environmental changes."

"English Nature is extremely excited by the prospect of working with the Natural Environment Research Council and addressing some of these long-term issues. The launch of UKPopNet represents a new and unique partnership bringing together a practitioner and some of the top researchers in the country in order to understand some of the processes underlying population biology."

Further information

English Nature
National Press Office
Tel: 01733 455190 or 07970 098005 (out of hours)

NERC Press Office
Natural Environment Research Council
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: 01793 411561
Mob: 07917 557215

Notes

1. The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is one of the UK's research councils. It uses a budget of about £300m a year to fund and carry out impartial scientific research in the sciences of the environment. NERC trains the next generation of independent environmental scientists. It is addressing some of the key questions facing mankind such as global warming, renewable energy and sustainable economic development.

2. UKPopNet funds seven inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional projects, which will commence in summer 2004, and a series of working groups and workshops, for which proposals are now solicited. Scientists from any institution are encouraged to become involved with the UKPopNet programme through workshops or by linking to existing projects; bids for funds should be from UK scientists.

3. Population biology is the study of births, deaths, and the dynamic forces that regulate the number of individuals in a population.

Press release: 08/04

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