Professional summary
Research Interests
My research is largely focuses on science underpinning the management, conservation and restoration of landscapes. Latterly I have investigated landscapes through the lens of natural capital, ecosystem services and nature based solutions. I am particularly interested in methods for assessing natural capital and ecosystem services and the wider policy implications which stem from these investigations. My major research interests include:
Ecosystem service models and tools; including empirical, mechanistic and narrative tools.
Linking natural capital and ecosystem service research to policy
Stakeholder engagement in temperate, tropical and arctic environments
Brief CV
I have over 40 years experience working on the science underpinning the conservation and restoration of landscapes in tropical, temperate and sub-arctic landscapes. My early career as a tree physiologist focused on the provision of trees in landscapes both for production and conservation purposes, but my later work has considered ecosystems more holistically. Since the turn of the century my work has concentrated on assessing ecosystems using robust numerical tool boxes initially from the ecological perspective researching plant functional types and latterly including social and economic aspects linking through to policy.
To date I have authored over 100 scientific papers, contract reports and popular articles. I have led and participated in international research projects in Europe; Asia, (Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam); Central and South America (Costa Rica, Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Brazil) and Africa (Sierra Leone, Kenya, Mali, and Uganda). I have reviewed proposals and projects for Darwin Initiative and Joint Research Programmes of Department of International Development; and reviewed manuscripts for a range of international journals including: New Phytologist, Tree Physiology, Forest Ecology and Management, International Forestry Review, Agroforestry Systems and New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, Ecosystem Services.
Qualifications
PhD Edinburgh University 1989
BA Open University 1984
HND Napier University 1977
PhD Edinburgh University 1989
BA Open University 1984
HND Napier University 1977
Work experience
2012-present
Senior Scientific Officer, Landscape sociologist
2013-present
Director Cairngorms Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research Platforms
2007-2012
Manager Cairngorms environmental change site
2001-2007
Senior Scientific Officer, Landscape ecologist
1989-2001
Higher Scientific Officer Tropical Tree Physiologist
1982-1989
Scientific officer, Eco-physiologist
2012-present |
Senior Scientific Officer, Landscape sociologist |
2013-present |
Director Cairngorms Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research Platforms |
2007-2012 |
Manager Cairngorms environmental change site |
2001-2007 |
Senior Scientific Officer, Landscape ecologist |
1989-2001 |
Higher Scientific Officer Tropical Tree Physiologist |
1982-1989 |
Scientific officer, Eco-physiologist |
Panels, committees and memberships
2018 – now ILTER elected mentor for Jordon
2018 – now Member of the UKCEH Ethics Committee
2013 – Now Director of Cairngorms Long-term Socio-ecological Research Platform
2010 – Now Editorial Advisory Board Ekológia (Bratislava).The Journal of Institute of Landscape Ecology of Slovak Academy of Sciences
2007 – Now UK representative at The International Long-Term Ecological Research Network (ILTER) and LTER-Europe
2018 – now ILTER elected mentor for Jordon
2018 – now Member of the UKCEH Ethics Committee
2013 – Now Director of Cairngorms Long-term Socio-ecological Research Platform
2010 – Now Editorial Advisory Board Ekológia (Bratislava).The Journal of Institute of Landscape Ecology of Slovak Academy of Sciences
2007 – Now UK representative at The International Long-Term Ecological Research Network (ILTER) and LTER-Europe