Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Sustainable Development

This theme addresses the research challenges inherent in understanding the central role that biodiversity and ecosystem services play in the delivery of sustainable development.

The breadth of basic and applied research within this Theme allows for a huge range of approaches that span from genomics to socioeconomics, with ample training opportunities. Our biodiversity research is exceptionally broad and targeted at understanding past, present and future biodiversity, how it responds to environmental change, and its importance for society. To quantify and predict changes in biodiversity, especially in response to environmental change, we research across a continuum in the field and laboratory, studying microbes to mammals, from the molecule to the ecosystem.

Key strengths exist in the evolutionary ecology of avian, mammalian, and insect systems, biological oceanography and phytoplankton ecology, marine and fisheries biology, agri-environment sciences, plant and crop evolution and ecology, landscape ecology and conservation. Our research strengths in microbiology illustrate breadth of impact and multidisciplinarity across EnvEast partners through the understanding of microbial effects upon biogeochemical processes such as the carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles, photosynthesis, trace gas cycling, bioremediation of pollutants, and environmental health.  EnvEast has key strengths in applying natural science knowledge to societal challenges (e.g. management of agricultural, forest and other land, water resources, wildlife conservation, fisheries and oceans).

Related Links

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent

Species and Ecosystems research at UEA

Resources, Sustainability and Governance research in Environmental Science at UEA

Science, Society and Sustainability (3S) Group at UEA

Sustainable Development research at the School of International Development, UEA 

Valuing Nature Network