探花直播 of Cambridge - Chris Sandbrook /taxonomy/people/chris-sandbrook en Wildlife monitoring technologies used to intimidate and spy on women, study finds /research/news/wildlife-monitoring-technologies-used-to-intimidate-and-spy-on-women-study-finds <div class="field field-name-field-news-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img class="cam-scale-with-grid" src="/sites/default/files/styles/content-580x288/public/news/news/2-trishant-simlai-interviewing-a-local-woman-885x428px.jpg?itok=gI1QPw6t" alt="Researcher interviewing a local woman in India" title="Researcher interviewing a local woman in India, Credit: None" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Remotely operated camera traps, sound recorders and drones are increasingly being used in conservation science to monitor wildlife and natural habitats, and to keep watch on protected natural areas.</p> <p>But Cambridge researchers studying a forest in northern India have found that the technologies are being deliberately misused by local government and male villagers to keep watch on women without their consent.</p> <p>Cambridge researcher Dr Trishant Simlai spent 14 months interviewing 270 locals living around the Corbett Tiger Reserve, a national park in northern India, including many women from nearby villages.</p> <p>His report, published today in the journal <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/26349825241283837"><em>Environment and Planning F</em></a>, reveals how forest rangers in the national park deliberately fly drones over local women to frighten them out of the forest, and stop them collecting natural resources despite it being their legal right to do so.</p> <p> 探花直播women, who previously found sanctuary in the forest away from their male-dominated villages, told Simlai they feel watched and inhibited by camera traps, so talk and sing much more quietly. This increases the chance of surprise encounters with potentially dangerous wildlife like elephants and tigers. One woman he interviewed has since been killed in a tiger attack.</p> <p> 探花直播study reveals a worst-case scenario of deliberate human monitoring and intimidation. But the researchers say people are being unintentionally recorded by wildlife monitoring devices without their knowledge in many other places - even national parks in the UK.聽</p> <p>鈥淣obody could have realised that camera traps put in the Indian forest to monitor mammals actually have a profoundly negative impact on the mental health of local women who use these spaces,鈥 said Dr Trishant Simlai, a researcher on the 'Smart Forests' project in the 探花直播 of Cambridge鈥檚 Department of Sociology and lead author of the report.</p> <p>鈥淭hese findings have caused quite a stir amongst the conservation community. It鈥檚 very common for projects to use these technologies to monitor wildlife, but this highlights that we really need to be sure they鈥檙e not causing unintended harm,鈥 said Professor Chris Sandbrook, Director of the 探花直播 of Cambridge鈥檚 Masters in Conservation Leadership programme, who was also involved in the report.</p> <p>He added: 鈥淪urveillance technologies that are supposed to be tracking animals can easily be used to watch people instead 鈥 invading their privacy and altering the way they behave.鈥</p> <p>Many areas of conservation importance overlap with areas of human use. 探花直播researchers call for conservationists to think carefully about the social implications of using remote monitoring technologies 鈥 and whether less invasive methods like surveys could provide the information they need instead.</p> <p><strong><em>Intimidation and deliberate humiliation</em></strong></p> <p> 探花直播women living near India鈥檚 Corbett Tiger Reserve use the forest daily in ways that are central to their lives: from gathering firewood and herbs to sharing life鈥檚 difficulties through traditional songs.</p> <p>Domestic violence and alcoholism are widespread problems in this rural region and many women spend long hours in forest spaces to escape difficult home situations.</p> <p> 探花直播women told Simlai that new technologies, deployed under the guise of wildlife monitoring projects, are being used to intimidate and exert power over them - by monitoring them too.聽</p> <p>鈥淎 photograph of a woman going to the toilet in the forest 鈥 captured on a camera trap supposedly for wildlife monitoring - was circulated on local Facebook and WhatsApp groups as a means of deliberate harassment,鈥 said Simlai.聽</p> <p>He added: 鈥淚 discovered that local women form strong bonds while working together in the forest, and they sing while collecting firewood to deter attacks by elephants and tigers. When they see camera traps they feel inhibited because they don鈥檛 know who鈥檚 watching or listening to them 鈥 and as a result they behave differently - often being much quieter, which puts them in danger.鈥</p> <p>In places like northern India, the identity of local women is closely linked to their daily activities and social roles within the forest. 探花直播researchers say that understanding the various ways local women use forests is vital for effective forest management strategies.</p> <p><em><strong>Reference: </strong>Simlai, T. et al: 鈥<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/26349825241283837"> 探花直播Gendered Forest: Digital Surveillance Technologies for Conservation and Gender-Environment relationships</a>.鈥 November 2024. DOI:10.17863/CAM.111664</em><br /> 聽</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-summary field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>Camera traps and drones deployed by government authorities to monitor a forest in India are infringing on the privacy and rights of local women.</p> </p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-quote field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Nobody could have realised that camera traps put in the Indian forest to monitor mammals actually have a profoundly negative impact on the mental health of local women who use these spaces.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-quote-name field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Trishant Simlai</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-desctiprion field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Researcher interviewing a local woman in India</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cc-attribute-text field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/" rel="license"><img alt="Creative Commons License." src="/sites/www.cam.ac.uk/files/inner-images/cc-by-nc-sa-4-license.png" style="border-width: 0px; width: 88px; height: 31px;" /></a><br /> 探花直播text in this work is licensed under a <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License</a>. Images, including our videos, are Copyright 漏 探花直播 of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified. All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways 鈥 on our <a href="/">main website</a> under its <a href="/about-this-site/terms-and-conditions">Terms and conditions</a>, and on a <a href="/about-this-site/connect-with-us">range of channels including social media</a> that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-show-cc-text field-type-list-boolean field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Yes</div></div></div> Mon, 25 Nov 2024 00:01:44 +0000 jg533 248568 at Public invited to chat to museum animals in novel AI experiment /research/news/public-invited-to-chat-to-museum-animals-in-novel-ai-experiment <div class="field field-name-field-news-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img class="cam-scale-with-grid" src="/sites/default/files/styles/content-580x288/public/news/research/news/fin-whale-1-credit-j-garget885x428px.jpg?itok=wDJcjckr" alt="Jack Ashby talking to the Museum&#039;s fin whale " title="Jack Ashby talking to the Museum&amp;#039;s fin whale , Credit: None" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>From Tuesday 15 October, the 探花直播 of Cambridge鈥檚 Museum of Zoology is offering visitors a unique experience: the chance to chat with the animals on display 鈥 whether skeletal, taxidermy, or extinct.</p> <p>In a collaboration with the company Nature Perspectives, the Museum鈥檚 Assistant Director Jack Ashby has chosen a range of animal specimens to bring back to life using generative artificial intelligence (AI).</p> <p>Visitors can pose their questions to 13 specimens - including dodo and whale skeletons, a taxidermied red panda, and a preserved cockroach - by scanning QR codes that open a chat-box on their mobile phone. In two-way conversations, which can be voice- or text-based, the specimens will answer as if they are still alive.</p> <p>This is believed to be the first time a museum has used generative artificial intelligence to enable visitors to chat with objects on display in this way.</p> <p>By analysing data from the conversations, the team hopes that the month-long experiment will help them learn more about how AI can help the public to better engage with nature, and about the potential for AI in museums. It will also provide the museum with new insights into what visitors really want to know about the specimens on display.</p> <p>Nature Perspectives uses AI to enable cultural institutions like the Museum of Zoology to engage the public through these unique conversational experiences. 探花直播company aims to reverse a growing apathy towards biodiversity loss by enabling new ways to engage with the natural world.</p> <p>鈥淭his is an amazing opportunity for people to test out an emerging technology in our inspiring Museum setting, and we also hope to learn something about how our visitors see the animals on display,鈥 said Jack Ashby, Assistant Director of the 探花直播 of Cambridge鈥檚 Museum of Zoology.</p> <p>He added: 鈥淥ur whole purpose is to get people engaged with the natural world. So we're curious to see whether this will work, and whether chatting to the animals will change people鈥檚 attitudes towards them - will the cockroach be better liked, for example, as a result of having its voice heard?鈥</p> <p>鈥淏y using AI to simulate non-human perspectives, our technology offers a novel way for audiences to connect with the natural world,鈥 said Gal Zanir, co-founder of the company Nature Perspectives, which developed the AI technology for the experience.</p> <p>He added: 鈥淥ne of the most magical aspects of the simulations is that they鈥檙e age-adaptive. For the first time, visitors of all ages will be able to ask the specimens anything they like.鈥</p> <p> 探花直播technology brings together all available information on each animal involved 鈥 including details particular to the individual specimens such as where they came from and how they were prepared for display in the museum. This is all repackaged from a first-person perspective, so that visitors can experience realistic, meaningful conversations.</p> <p> 探花直播animals will adjust their tone and language to suit the age of the person they鈥檙e talking to. And they鈥檙e multi-lingual - speaking over 20 languages including Spanish and Japanese so that visitors can chat in their native languages.</p> <p> 探花直播team has chosen a range of specimens that include skeletons, taxidermy, models, and whole preserved animals. 探花直播specimens are: dodo skeleton, narwhal skeleton, brain coral, red admiral butterfly, fin whale skeleton, American cockroach, huia taxidermy (a recently extinct bird from New Zealand), red panda taxidermy, freeze-dried platypus, giant sloth fossil skeleton, giant deer skull and antlers, mallard taxidermy, and聽<em>Ichthyostega</em> model (an extinct ancestor of all animals with 4 legs).</p> <p>Nature Perspectives was created by a team of graduates from the 探花直播鈥檚 <a href="https://www.cl.geog.cam.ac.uk/">Masters in Conservation Leadership</a> programme, who noticed that people seem to feel more connected to machines when they can talk to them. This inspired the team to apply the same principle to nature - giving nature a voice to promote its agency and foster deeper, more personal connections between people and the natural world.</p> <p>鈥淎rtificial intelligence is opening up exciting new opportunities to connect people with non-human life, but the impacts need to be carefully studied. I鈥檓 delighted to be involved in exploring how the Nature Perspectives pilot affects the way people feel about and understand the species they 鈥榤eet鈥 in the Museum of Zoology,鈥 said Professor Chris Sandbrook, Director of the 探花直播 of Cambridge鈥檚 Masters in Conservation Leadership programme.</p> <p>鈥淓nabling museums to engage visitors with the simulated perspectives of exhibits is only the first step for Nature Perspectives. We aim to apply this transformative approach widely, from public engagement and education to scientific research, to representing nature in legal processes, policy-making and beyond," said Zanir.</p> <p> 探花直播Nature Perspectives AI experiment runs until the end of Dcember 2025.</p> <p>聽</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-summary field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>Specimens in a Cambridge museum will be brought to life through the power of Artificial Intelligence, by a team aiming to strengthen our connection with the natural world and reverse apathy towards biodiversity loss.</p> </p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-quote field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">This is an amazing opportunity for people to test out an emerging technology in our inspiring Museum setting.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-quote-name field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Jack Ashby</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-desctiprion field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Jack Ashby talking to the Museum&#039;s fin whale </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cc-attribute-text field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/" rel="license"><img alt="Creative Commons License." src="/sites/www.cam.ac.uk/files/inner-images/cc-by-nc-sa-4-license.png" style="border-width: 0px; width: 88px; height: 31px;" /></a><br /> 探花直播text in this work is licensed under a <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License</a>. Images, including our videos, are Copyright 漏 探花直播 of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified. All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways 鈥 on our <a href="/">main website</a> under its <a href="/about-this-site/terms-and-conditions">Terms and conditions</a>, and on a <a href="/about-this-site/connect-with-us">range of channels including social media</a> that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-show-cc-text field-type-list-boolean field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Yes</div></div></div> Sun, 13 Oct 2024 23:14:04 +0000 jg533 248221 at COP15: UN and Cambridge sign agreement to bolster conservation /news/cop15-un-and-cambridge-sign-agreement-to-bolster-conservation <div class="field field-name-field-news-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img class="cam-scale-with-grid" src="/sites/default/files/styles/content-580x288/public/news/news/cbd.jpg?itok=8PGYfH-8" alt="" title="Credit: None" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p> 探花直播agreement has been made in recognition of the impact and alignment of the novel Masters course with the goals of the CBD Capacity Development framework and ultimately the importance of education and capacity building in the fight to protect the natural world and the biodiversity within it.</p> <p> 探花直播MoU agreement signed yesterday paves the way for shared initiatives to accelerate building the capacity of national biodiversity experts and conservation leaders, crucial for the delivery of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Additionally, it will enable a series of knowledge exchange activities to support effective implementation of the framework.</p> <p>Established in 2010, the Masters in Conservation Leadership is a ground-breaking course that equips students with the applied leadership and management skills needed to create positive change in conservation. A unique feature of the course is its delivery by a collaboration between the 探花直播 of Cambridge and the leading conservation organisations, which together comprise the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI).</p> <p>Another notable feature of the course is the development of an active global conservation leadership alumni network (UCCLAN), now totalling over 220 alumni in 89 countries around the world. 探花直播alumni network has 鈥榦bserver status鈥 at the conference and has already been influential in the wider negotiations.</p> <p>鈥淪ince 2010 the Cambridge Masters in Conservation Leadership has been building the capacity of outstanding future conservation leaders from around the world. Our alumni have the skills, networks and wisdom needed to support delivery of the Convention on Biological Diversity framework being agreed at COP 15," said聽Chris Sandbrook, Director of the Masters in Conservation Leadership and CCI Council member. " 探花直播MoU we are signing today with the Secretariat of the Convention will enable us to work closely together towards our shared objectives for capacity development. It is a proud moment for me and everyone involved in the Masters.鈥</p> <p> 探花直播Masters in Conservation Leadership team have been working towards this agreement for several years and are delighted to now finalise the agreement, enabling a cohesive approach to building the leadership capacity needed to create a diverse world in which nature and society thrive.</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-summary field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p> 探花直播UN Convention on Biological Diversity聽secretariat and the 探花直播 of Cambridge signed a Memorandum of Understanding on day two of COP15, which recognises聽that the聽CCI Masters in Conservation Leadership course hosted by the Department of Geography plays a crucial role in聽conservation capacity building.</p> </p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-quote field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Since 2010 the Cambridge Masters in Conservation Leadership has been building the capacity of outstanding future conservation leaders from around the world</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-quote-name field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Chris Sandbrook, Director of the Masters in Conservation Leadership and CCI Council member</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cc-attribute-text field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" rel="license"><img alt="Creative Commons License" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/4.0/88x31.png" style="border-width:0" /></a><br /> 探花直播text in this work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License</a>. Images, including our videos, are Copyright 漏 探花直播 of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified.聽 All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways 鈥 as here, on our <a href="/">main website</a> under its <a href="/about-this-site/terms-and-conditions">Terms and conditions</a>, and on a <a href="/about-this-site/connect-with-us">range of channels including social media</a> that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-show-cc-text field-type-list-boolean field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Yes</div></div></div> Fri, 09 Dec 2022 11:07:16 +0000 plc32 235891 at Ecosystems Overload /stories/ecosystemsoverload <div class="field field-name-field-content-summary field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>We are laying waste to the biosphere. If we're serious about saving millions of species, then it's our own that must change how it thinks about, lives off and values the planet it inhabits.</p> </p></div></div></div> Tue, 10 Dec 2019 09:48:57 +0000 fpjl2 209722 at Saving 鈥楬alf-Earth鈥 for nature would affect over a billion people /research/news/saving-half-earth-for-nature-would-affect-over-a-billion-people <div class="field field-name-field-news-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img class="cam-scale-with-grid" src="/sites/default/files/styles/content-580x288/public/news/research/news/web_1.jpg?itok=JIUXLKqF" alt="" title="Protected area, Credit: Kate Ter Haar" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>As the extinction crisis escalates, and protest movements grow, some are calling for hugely ambitious conservation targets. Among the most prominent is sparing 50% of the Earth鈥檚 surface for nature.</p> <p>鈥楬alf-Earth鈥 and similar proposals have gained traction with conservationists and policy makers. However, little work has gone into identifying the social and economic implications for people.</p> <p>Now, researchers have produced the first attempt to assess how many and who would be affected if half the planet was 鈥榮aved鈥 in a way that secures the diversity of the world鈥檚 habitats.</p> <p>A team of scientists analysed global datasets to determine where conservation status could be added to provide 50% protection to every 鈥渆coregion鈥: large areas of distinct habitats such as Central African mangroves and Baltic mixed forests.聽</p> <p>Even avoiding where possible 鈥渉uman footprints鈥 such as cities and farmland, their findings suggest a 鈥渃onservative鈥 estimate for those directly affected by Half Earth would be over one billion people, primarily in middle-income countries.</p> <p>Many wealthy and densely populated nations in the Global North would also need to see major expansions of land with conservation status to reach 50% 鈥 this could even include parts of London, for example.</p> <p> 探花直播study鈥檚 authors, led by 探花直播 of Cambridge researchers, say that while radical action is urgently required for the future of life on Earth, issues of environmental justice and human wellbeing should be at the forefront of the conservation movement.</p> <p>鈥淧eople are the cause of the extinction crisis, but they are also the solution,鈥 said Dr Judith Schleicher, who led the new study, published today in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-019-0423-y"><em>Nature Sustainability</em></a>. 鈥淪ocial issues must play a more prominent role if we want to deliver effective conservation that works for both the biosphere and the people who inhabit it.鈥</p> <p>Towards the end of next year, the leaders of most of the world鈥檚 nations will aim to agree global targets for the future of conservation at the Convention on Biological Diversity in Beijing.</p> <p>鈥淕oals that emerge from the Convention on Biological Diversity could define conservation for a generation,鈥 said Schleicher, who conducted the research while at the 探花直播 of Cambridge鈥檚 Conservation Research Institute and its Department of Geography. 聽</p> <p>鈥淲e need to be ambitious given the environmental crises. But it is vital that social and economic implications at local levels are considered if the drivers of biodiversity loss are to be tackled. 探花直播lives of many people and the existence of diverse species hang in the balance.鈥澛</p> <p> 探花直播idea of a 鈥楬alf-Earth鈥 for nature was popularised by famed biologist E.O. Wilson in his 2017 book of the same name. More recently, a 鈥楪lobal Deal for Nature鈥 鈥 aiming for 30% protection by 2030 and 50% by 2050 鈥 has been endorsed by a number of leading environmental organisations. However, these proposals have been ambiguous about 鈥渆xact forms and location鈥, say Schleicher and colleagues.聽</p> <p>Based on their analyses, researchers cautiously estimate that an additional 760 million people would find themselves living in areas with new conservation status: a fourfold increase of the 247 million who currently reside inside protected areas.</p> <p> 探花直播team call for proponents of Half-Earth, and all supporters of area-based conservation, to 鈥渞ecognise and take seriously鈥 the human consequences 鈥 both negative and positive 鈥 of their proposals.聽聽聽</p> <p>鈥淟iving in areas rich in natural habitat can boost mental health and wellbeing. In some cases, protected areas can provide new jobs and income through ecotourism and sustainable production,鈥 said Schleicher.</p> <p>鈥淗owever, at the other extreme, certain forms of 鈥榝ortress鈥 conservation can see people displaced from their ancestral home and denied access to resources they rely on for their survival.鈥</p> <p>While conservation coverage has been increasing, species numbers continue to plummet 鈥 suggesting a 鈥渄isconnect鈥 between international targets and implementation at local and regional levels, argue the team.聽</p> <p>鈥淐onservation needs strong action to protect life on earth, but this must be done in a way that takes account of people and their needs,鈥 said co-author Dr Chris Sandbrook from Cambridge鈥檚 Department of Geography.</p> <p>鈥淔ailing to consider social issues will lead to conservation policy that is harmful to human wellbeing and less likely to be implemented in the first place.鈥澛犅犅犅</p> <p>Conservation is not just a problem for people of the Global South. Recent reports on UK wildlife revealed devastating declines in iconic species. Yet the study reveals that achieving 50% ecoregion coverage could even see parts of central London become protected. 鈥淚t highlights the absurdity of hitting arbitrary targets,鈥 Sandbrook said.聽聽</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-summary field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>Plans to save biodiversity must take into account the social impacts of conservation if they are to succeed, say 探花直播 of Cambridge researchers.</p> </p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-quote field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Goals that emerge from the Convention on Biological Diversity could define conservation for a generation</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-quote-name field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Judith Schleicher</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-credit field-type-link-field field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/katerha/9285434088" target="_blank">Kate Ter Haar</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-desctiprion field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Protected area</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cc-attribute-text field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" rel="license"><img alt="Creative Commons License" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/4.0/88x31.png" style="border-width:0" /></a><br /> 探花直播text in this work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License</a>. Images, including our videos, are Copyright 漏 探花直播 of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified.聽 All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways 鈥 as here, on our <a href="/">main website</a> under its <a href="/about-this-site/terms-and-conditions">Terms and conditions</a>, and on a <a href="/about-this-site/connect-with-us">range of channels including social media</a> that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-show-cc-text field-type-list-boolean field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Yes</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-license-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Licence type:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/imagecredit/attribution">Attribution</a></div></div></div> Mon, 18 Nov 2019 11:22:39 +0000 fpjl2 208822 at Conservationists share 鈥榗ore aims鈥 but clash over ways forward, study finds /research/news/conservationists-share-core-aims-but-clash-over-ways-forward-study-finds <div class="field field-name-field-news-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img class="cam-scale-with-grid" src="/sites/default/files/styles/content-580x288/public/news/research/news/sandbrook.jpg?itok=TcjjU-Rx" alt="A farmer with a conservationist in Montana, USA" title="A conservationist and a farmer in Rosebud County, Montana, USA, Credit: Photo courtesy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p> 探花直播first large-scale study of the views held by those working to protect the natural world has found agreement on the goals of conservation 鈥 but substantial disagreement on how to move towards them.</p> <p>Latest research reveals a sizable consensus among conservationists for many core aims: maintaining ecosystems, securing public support, and reducing environmental impact of the world鈥檚 richest.</p> <p>However, the study also shows the global community is deeply split on whether to place economic value on nature. 探花直播necessity of protected areas 鈥 and whether people should be moved to create them 鈥 is highly disputed, as is the worth of 'non-native'聽species.聽</p> <p>Conducted by Cambridge 探花直播鈥檚 Dr Chris Sandbrook with colleagues from Edinburgh and Leeds universities, the new study collected opinions of over 9,200 conservationists in over 140 countries. It is published today in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-019-0267-5"><em>Nature Sustainability</em></a>.</p> <p> 探花直播research uncovers some demographic variation. For example, women and those from Africa and South America lean more toward 鈥減eople-centered鈥 conservation, which aims to benefit communities and give them a say in conservation decisions. Men and those from North America tend to favour a 'science-led'聽approach associated with protecting nature for its own sake.</p> <p><strong>'...like a political party'</strong></p> <p>Next year鈥檚 Convention on Biological Diversity meeting will see UN member states gather in Beijing to set global conservation goals for the following decade. 探花直播research team says their findings 鈥渞aise important questions about whose voices get heard in conservation debates鈥.</p> <p>鈥淎 core set of aims must form the bedrock of any social movement,鈥 said lead author Sandbrook, from the Cambridge Conservation Initiative. 鈥淲e can see that the world鈥檚 conservation community is in general agreement on many fundamental beliefs and objectives.鈥</p> <p>鈥淲hen it comes to the mechanisms for delivering conservation, we find significant rifts emerge. In some ways the conservation movement is like a political party, where some underlying beliefs bind together people who don鈥檛 agree on absolutely everything. When big decisions need to be taken these splits come to the surface.鈥</p> <p>Researchers took great pains to reach as many conservationists around the world as possible. However, they say their sample is still skewed towards Europe and North America.</p> <p>Sandbrook cautions that the diversity of opinion the study is helping to reveal is often underrepresented. 鈥淭here will be huge decisions taken about the future of conservation in the next 18 months. Let鈥檚 make sure we ask the whole global community, so we can build an inclusive and effective movement.鈥</p> <p><strong>Fault lines</strong></p> <p>While the study鈥檚 authors say conservation is facing 鈥渂itter internal disputes鈥 over its future, their research confirms some key ideas around which the majority of conservationists coalesce.聽</p> <p> 探花直播study finds 90% agreement for science-based conservation goals, as well as for giving a voice to people affected by those goals. Some 88% agree that the environmental impact of the rich must be curtailed, and only 8% think global trade is fine as it is.</p> <p>Some 77% believe human population growth should be reduced, and only 6% think humans are separate from nature.</p> <p> 探花直播fault lines in the global movement are also revealed. For example, only 57% think strict protected areas are required, and almost half (49%) believe it鈥檚 wrong to displace humans in the process. Reports of 鈥榚co-guards鈥 suppressing local people in Africa鈥檚 protected areas have recently brought these debates into sharp focus.</p> <p>So-called invasive species also prove divisive. Some 35% think they offer little value to conservation, while 50% disagree. Sandbrook says that some examples of non-native species can help engage the public, but they are often bad news for local species.</p> <p>鈥淚n the UK, many people love Ring-Necked Parakeets because they look beautiful and tropical. But these animals can threaten native wildlife and some argue they should be culled,鈥 he said.聽聽聽</p> <p><strong>'Conservation through capitalism'</strong></p> <p> 探花直播study shows the application of economics to nature is one of conservation鈥檚 most contentious issues. 鈥淪ome think assigning monetary value to nature is a pragmatic way to assist policy-making. Others believe it reprehensible to put a price tag on things that are priceless,鈥 said Sandbrook.聽聽</p> <p>Only around half (52%) of conservationists think their movement 'should work with capitalism'. Some 61% believe 'economic arguments for conservation are risky', and 73% think economic rationales risk displacing other motivations for protecting species.</p> <p>However, a high number 鈥 some 84% 鈥 believe corporations 'can be a positive force for conservation'聽and 62% say the movement needs the support of corporations, suggesting many conservationists see both the pros and cons of economic approaches.</p> <p>This 'conservation through capitalism'聽is viewed more favourably by younger conservationists and those from Africa, but also among those in more senior jobs.</p> <p>鈥淥ur study shows that conservation is a diverse movement, both in people and ideas,鈥 added Sandbrook. 鈥淎s the Convention on Biological Diversity 2020 meeting approaches, we need to improve the representation of this diversity when debating how best to preserve life on Earth.鈥 聽聽聽</p> <p><strong>A bold response to the world鈥檚 greatest challenge</strong><br /> 探花直播 探花直播 of Cambridge is building on its existing research and launching an ambitious new environment and climate change initiative. <a href="https://www.zero.cam.ac.uk">Cambridge Zero</a> is not just about developing greener technologies. It will harness the full power of the 探花直播鈥檚 research and policy expertise, developing solutions that work for our lives, our society and our biosphere.</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-summary field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>Research reveals rifts within global movement 鈥 from economic approaches to protected areas 鈥 while confirming support for aims underpinning it.聽</p> </p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-quote field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Our study shows that conservation is a diverse movement, both in people and ideas</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-quote-name field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Chris Sandbrook</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-credit field-type-link-field field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/6823_NRCS_projects_(24175266987).jpg" target="_blank">Photo courtesy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-desctiprion field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">A conservationist and a farmer in Rosebud County, Montana, USA</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cc-attribute-text field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" rel="license"><img alt="Creative Commons License" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/4.0/88x31.png" style="border-width:0" /></a><br /> 探花直播text in this work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License</a>. Images, including our videos, are Copyright 漏 探花直播 of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified.聽 All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways 鈥 as here, on our <a href="/">main website</a> under its <a href="/about-this-site/terms-and-conditions">Terms and conditions</a>, and on a <a href="/about-this-site/connect-with-us">range of channels including social media</a> that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-show-cc-text field-type-list-boolean field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Yes</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-license-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Licence type:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/imagecredit/attribution">Attribution</a></div></div></div> Tue, 09 Apr 2019 14:25:15 +0000 fpjl2 204642 at What can Pok茅mon Go teach the world of conservation? /research/news/what-can-pokemon-go-teach-the-world-of-conservation <div class="field field-name-field-news-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img class="cam-scale-with-grid" src="/sites/default/files/styles/content-580x288/public/news/research/news/161115-pokemon-golloyd.jpg?itok=acchSlnI" alt="Pokemon outside King&#039;s College Cambridge" title="Pokemon outside King&amp;#039;s College Cambridge, Credit: Mister_Toodles" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>A new <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/conl.12326/full">paper</a> by a group of researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, and 探花直播 College London (UCL) explores whether Pok茅mon Go's success in getting people out of their homes and interacting with virtual 'animals' could be replicated to redress what is often perceived as a decline in interest in the natural world among the general public.</p>&#13; &#13; <p>Or, could the game's popularity pose more problems than opportunities for conservation?</p>&#13; &#13; <p>Study author Leejiah Dorward, a doctoral candidate in Oxford 探花直播's Department of Zoology, said: "When Pok茅mon Go first came out, one of the most striking things was its similarity with many of the concepts seen in natural history and conservation. 探花直播basic facts and information about Pok茅mon Go make it sound like an incredibly successful citizen science project, rather than a smartphone game.</p>&#13; &#13; <p>"We wanted to explore how the success of Pok茅mon Go might create opportunities or challenges for the conservation movement."</p>&#13; &#13; <p>Co-author John C Mittermeier, a doctoral candidate in Oxford's School of Geography and the Environment, said: "There is a widespread belief that interest in natural history is waning and that people are less interested in spending time outside and exploring the natural world.</p>&#13; &#13; <p>"Pok茅mon Go is only one step removed from natural history activities like bird watching or insect collecting: Pok茅mon exist as 'real' creatures that can be spotted and collected, and the game itself has been getting people outdoors. What鈥檚 going on here, and can we as conservationists take advantage of it?"</p>&#13; &#13; <p>In the paper, the researchers explain that Pok茅mon Go has been shown to inspire high levels of behavioural change among its users, with people making significant adjustments to their daily routines and to the amount of time spent outside in order to increase their chances of encountering target 'species'. There is also evidence that users are discovering non-virtual wildlife while playing Pok茅mon Go, leading to the Twitter hashtag #Pokeblitz that helps people identify 'real' species found and photographed during play.</p>&#13; &#13; <p>Pok茅mon Go, the researchers write, exposes users first hand to basic natural history concepts such as species' habitat preferences and variations in abundance. 'Grass Pok茅mon', for example, tend to appear in parks, while water-related types are more likely to be found close to bodies of water. There are also four regional species that are continent restricted: Tauros to the Americas, Mr Mime to Western Europe, Farfetch鈥檇 to Asia, and the marsupial-like Kangaskhan to Australasia. This differentiation captures a fundamental aspect of natural history observation 鈥 that exploring new habitats and continents will lead to encounters with different species.</p>&#13; &#13; <p>And hundreds of people congregated near New York鈥檚 Central Park one night over the summer to try to find a rare Vaporeon 鈥 something that will sound familiar to birdwatchers used to similar gatherings to see a rare species.</p>&#13; &#13; <p>However, the researchers caution that the success of Pok茅mon Go could also bring challenges: for example, it may be that this type of augmented reality 鈥 featuring engaging, brightly coloured fictional creatures 鈥 could replace people's desire to interact with real-world nature, or the focus on catching and battling Pok茅mon may encourage exploitation of wildlife. There has also been controversy in the Netherlands, where Pok茅mon Go players have been blamed for damage caused to a protected dune system south of 探花直播Hague.</p>&#13; &#13; <p>Co-author Dr Chris Sandbrook, a senior lecturer at UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre and affiliated lecturer at the Department of Geography, 探花直播 of Cambridge, said: "Just getting people outside does not guarantee a conservation success from Pok茅mon Go. It might actually make things worse 鈥 for example, if interest in finding a rare Vaporeon replaces concern for real species threatened with extinction. Real nature could be seen as just a mundane backdrop for more exciting virtual wildlife."</p>&#13; &#13; <p>Dorward added: "One of the positive things about Pok茅mon Go is that there's a very low barrier for entry. As long as you have a smartphone, you can play 鈥 and the game itself does a lot of things for you. Finding ways to break down barriers to engagement with real-life nature is a priority for conservation. Pok茅mon are also relatable 'characters', whereas modern conservation tends to frame itself purely in scientific terms, which may be off-putting to many.</p>&#13; &#13; <p>"There is something called the biophilia hypothesis, which suggests that people have an in-built affinity with nature and a desire to explore the natural world. If that鈥檚 one of the reasons Pok茅mon Go has proved to be so popular 鈥 because it鈥檚 a natural history proxy 鈥 then that could be a huge boost to conservation. It's possible that the desire to connect with nature is there and to get people to engage with conservation we just need to 'sell' it correctly."</p>&#13; &#13; <p> 探花直播<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/conl.12326/full">paper</a> 'Pok茅mon Go: benefits, costs, and lessons for the conservation movement' is published in the journal <em>Conservation Letters</em>.</p>&#13; </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-summary field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p> 探花直播augmented reality game, designed for mobile devices, allows users to capture, battle and train virtual creatures called Pok茅mon that appear on screen as if part of the real-world environment. But can the game's enormous success deliver any lessons to the fields of natural history and conservation?</p>&#13; </p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-quote field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> 探花直播basic facts and information about Pok茅mon Go make it sound like an incredibly successful citizen science project, rather than a smartphone game</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-quote-name field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Leejiah Dorward</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-credit field-type-link-field field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/" target="_blank">Mister_Toodles</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-desctiprion field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Pokemon outside King&#039;s College Cambridge</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cc-attribute-text field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" rel="license"><img alt="Creative Commons License" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/4.0/88x31.png" style="border-width:0" /></a><br />&#13; 探花直播text in this work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" rel="license">Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License</a>. For image use please see separate credits above.</p>&#13; </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-show-cc-text field-type-list-boolean field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Yes</div></div></div> Wed, 16 Nov 2016 15:37:01 +0000 Anonymous 181832 at