CIWEM's Natural Capital Network (NCN) will support
professionals working to protect the resources, sinks and services
that are provided by the natural environment.
The function of the NCN is to provide expert views for the
Institution and to be a sounding board for current and new
initiatives.
Scope
The scope of the Natural Capital Network covers:
- Biodiversity: the variety of life within ecosystems,
biomes and on Earth
- Geodiversity: the variety of earth materials, forms and
processes that shape the Earth (as a whole or part of it)
- Human interactions with the environment both in terms of the
impacts of human activity on the environment and the positive
benefits of the environment on human life including mental and
physical wellbeing
For the purposes of this Network, Natural Capital is defined as
the resources, sinks and services that are provided by the natural
environment.
Within this context, the NCN focuses specifically on the
interactions of people with the natural environment, considering
the impacts of human activity on ecosystems and landscapes and how
these can be sensitively managed. It also considers the
benefits to humans in terms of mental and physical wellbeing that
can be gained from exposure to a healthy natural environment and
how ecosystem services can be enhanced in the built, historic and
managed environment.
This work is driven by the steering group, detials of which can
be found below.
Seeking Members
The NCN is be a virtual global network, operating mainly by
email and other social networks, but there is a Steering
Group of 15 who meet at least 2 times a year and help direct the
work of the Group as a whole.
If you have any of the above elements as part of your post, are
interested in Natural Capital, or require further information on
joining the network please contact Jo Cooper.
Membership of the network is not a major commitment - it is a
good way to keep in touch with CIWEM's work (there will be regular
email updates) on natural capital issues and to pass on your
views.
The NCN will produce a number of outputs including
events, consultation responses, policy statements, technical
advice, representation and publications.
Steering Group
The steering group meets several times a year to direct the
networks outputs, this is chaired by Nikki Wood from Environmental
Gain Ltd, click on the names below for steering group profiles.
Steering Group member required!
We are currently looking for a marine specialist to sit on the
NCN steering group. This will involve attending meetings
twice a year, and offering advice and comment to CIWEM on all
issues relating to the marine sector. If you are interested
please contact Jo Cooper
attaching a CV.
Nikki Wood (Chair)
Nikki Wood is an environmental professional with a specialism in
aquatic ecosystems. She has over 20 years experience working on the
implementation of environmental laws and policies, on assessing the
impacts of major infrastructure and redevelopment proposals, and
engaging stakeholders through participatory processes in strategic
and project-related decision-making. Nikki is the founding Director
of Engain which provides strategic environmental advice both in the
UK and to governments overseas. Her particular specialism is in the
application of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and
environmental risk management.
Richard Arnold
Richard Arnold is Technical Director for Thomson Ecology. He is
a highly experienced professional ecologist with an in-depth
understanding of wildlife legislation and planning policy. His work
has included biodiversity strategy and policy development, ecology
training and ecological impact assessments for major infrastructure
projects. He now provides clients with high level technical advice
in relation to biodiversity and oversees Thomson Ecology's large
team of ecologists.
John Box
John Box is an Associate with Atkins. He has over 25 years
experience in ecology and nature conservation and has worked in
both the private and public sectors. His project work has
included derelict land reclamation, urban regeneration, greenfield
development, infrastructure, housing development and mineral
extraction. John has a particular interest in urban
ecology and is a member of the UK-Man & the Biosphere Urban
Forum, a working group of urban ecologists and
environmentalists.
Alan Feest
Alan Feest is a Senior Research Fellow in the Institute of
Advanced Studies at the University of Bristol. Dr Feest's
special research topic is currently the measurement of biodiversity
although in the past he has been a pioneer in microbial ecology
studies. He is a member of the IPCC, advisor to the EU on
Biodiversity, professional ecologist, research reviewer for four
national governments, on the editorial board of three journals and
a non-executive director of an environmental consultancy.
Nick Godfrey
Nick is a Principal Economist within Atkins Water and
Environment. Nick is based within the Futures unit, recently set-up
to better understand the opportunities and challenges of the move
to a low carbon, climate resilient economy, including the linked
issues of complex environmental change, critical resources, and
natural capital. Nick joined Atkins in April 2011 from the
Department for International Development where he advised the UK
Government on the effective deployment of its £2.9 billion
International Climate Fund, including launching a major
cross-Whitehall review of the UK's funding strategy for combating
global deforestation, working with DECC, DEFRA, No.10, HM Treasury,
and FCO.
David Haley
Ecological artist, David Haley, believes our ability to survive
Climate Change is the enactment of a complex evolutionary
narrative. As the dance of creation and destruction, also, demand
new opportunities and meanings for the other side of collapse, his
inquiries into the nature of water, whole systems ecology and
integral critical futures thinking inform his arts practice,
academic research, education and community developments. As
Senior Research Fellow in MIRIAD at Manchester Metropolitan
University, Haley is Director of the Ecology In Practice research
group, and leads the award winning MA Art As Environment
programme.
Joanne Harvatt
Joanne is an Environmental Social Scientist who leads the
research programme for Enventure Consulting. She specializes
in understanding the drivers behind the public and stakeholders
behavioural responses to flooding, sea-level rise, energy
conservation, waste and climate change. Since completing her
PhD in 2007, on public responses to environmental risks, Joanne has
led on public engagement, research and communication activities
working both client and agency side. Joanne is passionate
about the projects she works on and she takes a holistic science
based approach to encouraging behavioural change. Joanne is
an Associate of the Market Research Society and has undertaken
extensive professional training in workshop facilitation and
stakeholder engagement.
Simon Howarth
Simon Howarth is a Technical Director at Mott MacDonald who
lives and works in Cambridge UK. He has worked for many years on a
range of water resources projects in South and East
Asia, notably in Nepal and China where he has been resident
for long periods. He has a strong interest in community
participation in water resources management, in developing
effective relationships between communities and
government, and in the role of these in protecting livelihoods
and reducing local conflict.
Bruce Lascelles
Dr Bruce Lascelles is an experienced soil and environmental
scientist and Business Director for Ecology at Hyder Consulting
Ltd. He has over 20 years research and consultancy
experience, specialising in soil and hydrological assessments in
relation to both habitats and agricultural land. He has
developed significant expertise in habitat creation, restoration
and translocation and in the design of appropriate soil handling
methodologies. He also has an interest in river geomorphology and
has recently worked on projects developing long-term restoration
visions for river SSSIs. Bruce is currently Chair of the Institute
of Professional Soil Scientists and on the Board of Trustees for
the British Society of Soil Science.
Tim Pickering
Tim Pickering is a technical specialist with the Environment
Agency. He is based in the Midlands and has worked for the
Agency and its predecessors for over 20 years. Originally trained
as an aquatic ecologist he has developed his professional interests
to include river restoration and the use of environmental
partnership in the delivery of strategic environmental
planning.
Jane Poole
Jane Poole is a Chartered Geologist and Associate Director
within the Geo-Environment team at Capita Symonds. Jane
manages multi-disciplinary teams in completing policy-oriented
research for government departments, particularly in relation to
minerals, geodiversity and landscape. She also provides
specialist geological and geomorphological expertise to a range of
projects for local planning authorities, mineral operators, major
developers and others.
Christopher Vaughan
Christopher Vaughan is a highly qualified and committed
Environment and International Development professional focusing on
climate change adaptation-mitigation, biodiversity and linkages to
international development and poverty reduction. He has over 18
years of globally comprehensive policy, programmatic, academic and
management experience. He has extensive knowledge of international
development and environment issues and policy processes for
mainstreaming climate change, poverty reduction and environmental
management. He is currently an independent consultant working with
donor agencies, UN agencies, NGOs, national government
representatives and the private sector.
Alan Woods
Alan is a consultant in environmental policy and business
strategy. His recent work includes: distilling and communicating
lessons for policy from the Rural Economy and Land Use research
programme; developing collaborative roadmaps for research and
innovation with Government, industry and academia; and working with
trade bodies to develop self-regulation schemes. He Chairs an
Environment Agency Environment Protection Advisory Committee and
Chaired the CIWEM Conservation and Recreation Panel from 2003 to
2009.
From microbes to mountains - understand the role of ecosystem
services in environmental management
The terms 'ecosystem services' and 'natural capital' are
increasingly used across the environment sector and within policy
circles. They provide the 'goods' on which our economic, social,
mental and cultural wellbeing are built, forming a core part of our
heritage. However, due to their complexity and relatively recent
conception, understanding of their definitions and purpose remains
weak. CIWEM will publish a number of documents on ecosystem
services during 2012. This initial document seeks to inform
environmental professionals through summarising the wealth of
information available into one easily digestible document.
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Policy Position Statements
