Region’s scientists lead way for nature research

The six-year programme will cost £13m and is the largest study of its kind attempted,

It will look at how to balance the levels of nature and wildlife required in Britain to maintain the environment over the coming decades as landscapes are adapted for more intensive food production and demands for water and biofuels.

Professor Dave Raffaelli, from York University’s environment department, has been appointed director of the programme.

His team will lead groups of researchers from across the country in the project, as well as working with Government agencies, conservationists, farmers and recreational groups.

“We are trying to find out how important biodiversity is,” he said.

“We know nature is obviously important but it is not quite clear how much we need to keep the soil fertile in a certain area, or how many trees we need on a hill to slow water run off and prevent flooding.

“As the landscape changes we need to be sure that we do not go below a critical level of biodiversity.

“We are looking at how far we can go with things like growing more food, without compromising all the other things we can expect from nature.

“There has never been anything done around this on this scale before.

“We are very excited about it. We have been planning this for about 10 years and it has taken a lot of effort to pull all this together.”

Prof Raffaelli and his team of seven other scientists from the university’s environment department and the Stockholm Environment Institute – a research institute based in York – are in talks with environmental specialists from across the UK to decide which kinds of landscapes to investigate.

These could include uplands such as the Pennines, Snowdonia or the Cairngorms, as well as lowland farming areas.

The new project, called the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Sustainability programme, is being funded by the Natural Research Environment Council.

Its head of research Dr Pamela Kempton said: “We need a much better understanding of the critical levels of biodiversity needed to maintain essential ecosystem services that not only provide water and food, but also benefits such as medicines, the breakdown of waste and the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.

“This programme will improve our knowledge and, ultimately, help the UK to develop a sustainable economy.”