Our new degree upskilling graduates in transformative change for nature

A Q&A with the MSc NR3 Co-Directors - Dr. Anna Gilchrist and Dr. Ian Thornhill

Why is now the right time to introduce this MSc?

Humanity has created a global biodiversity crisis that is inextricably linked with climate change. The simple fact is that wildlife populations are plunging and over one million species now face extinction. We are also witnessing drastic declines in the abundance, or overall number of individual species. This degraded state of our ecosystems is also compounding the causes and impacts of climate change. For example, by having a reduced capacity to provide vital ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and water regulation.

The United Nations have declared that 2020-2030 is the decade of Ecosystem Restoration where everyone, from governments and businesses to individuals, needs to rethink their relationship with nature. In addition, over the last few years we’ve also witnessed a groundswell of public interest in environmental issues, with more people concerned about the plight of nature, both nationally and internationally according to recent reports from the World Wildlife Fund as well as Natural England. We’ve also seen similar public support for rewilding, a growth in such projects worldwide, and an emergence of the approach being implemented in urban and rural contexts.

In summary, this MSc is timely because it is imperative that the time for action is now. There is a growth of innovative approaches to nature conservation across private and public sectors, in policy and practice, and support amongst the public. However, widespread adoption and upscaling of transformative conservation approaches is yet to happen - but happen it must.

The landscapes of Scotland may appear dramatically beautiful but the close-cropped vegetation and largely barren vistas speak of significantly degraded ecosystems that provide a fraction of the benefits that could be delivered for humans and non-humans if they were restored to a wilder and more functional state.

What do you hope students will experience during the MSc?

Aside from the University of Manchester being a top ranked Higher Education institution, the city of Manchester (a.k.a. Cottonopolis) has been at the heart of industrial development since the growth of the cotton trade in the late 18th and 19th century. In many ways the expansion of Manchester has been the forerunner of global urbanisation, which has prioritised continuous economic growth at the expense of the natural environment. This growth has not just affected cities, but also the surrounding landscapes that provide natural and social capital to fuel growth, and a much wider impact on unconnected areas with a requirement for intensive agricultural practices needed to support a growing human population.

By studying nature recovery, restoration and rewilding in the city that drove the start of unsustainable urbanisation, students coming to Manchester will be immersed in an excellent example of the global challenge of sustainable development. During the MSc, NR3 students will gain a diverse and rich experience that will enable them to make a real-world impact. Firstly, we want students from a diverse array of disciplinary backgrounds. This will be the lifeblood of the degree because developing solutions to our environmental crises will require interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches.

Mayfield Park, a newly developed green and blue space in the heart of Manchester city centre, is a great example of a nature positive approach delivering multi-functional benefits for nature and people. Measures implemented for biodiversity in Mayfield Park include daylighting and re-naturalising the River Medlock, planting wildflower meadows that escape ubiquitous urban mowing regimes and a suite of habitat infrastructure including kingfisher posts and bat boxes.

From the outset, we will provide students with a diverse portfolio of learning opportunities. This will include lectures and seminars given by academics and guest speakers with expertise in the diverse arena of transformative conservation, delivering a blend of philosophical, ethical and applied perspectives. Real-world understanding will be gained through field visits to carefully chosen case studies that are delivering positive outcomes for people and nature.

Finally, students will learn a diverse array of practical skills that are transferable to a wide range of environmental careers, such as data analytics, ecological survey techniques, and geographical information systems. Students will also be able to tailor their experience according to their personal ambitions through optional course units from across the University of Manchester, as well as embarking on major research project of their choosing.

Perhaps more than this, we want to build a community of people that are confident and driven to positively influence and change how society interacts with nature.

Developing field skills will form a vital part of the MSc in Nature Recovery, Restoration and Rewilding. These experiences will be integrated into the programme both as day visits within course units and also as a residential field visit where students can immerse themselves in acquiring practical knowledge on how to implement, measure and monitor transformative changes for nature.

Where will students go after?

We expect that NR3 graduates will graduate equipped with a critical understanding of the limitations of historical approaches to nature conservation and contemporary and ambitious ideas to transform attitudes, policies and practices through which nature positive solutions may be realised. They will be well versed in social-ecological systems, recognising the critical connections and reciprocity between people and nature. As such, we anticipate that our graduates will be well suited to roles across the public, private and charitable sectors as ecological advisors, environmental planners, environmental consultants, conservation practitioners, researchers, sustainability advisors and environmental educators.

The MSc NR3 will provide you with the knowledge and skills to pursue a range of careers - from hands-on restoration of ecosystems through to working in the private sector as a consultant or in governance or decision-making roles.

What are you most excited about?

For us, this programme feels like a breath of fresh air. We are so used to looking back at the plethora of environmental catastrophes that litter humanity’s past and focusing on the present scale at which biodiversity is being lost. By contrast, the MSc in Nature Recovery, Restoration and Rewilding is all about delivering a programme of learning that does not ignore where we are but focuses explicitly on what we can do about the challenges we face. We both feel that this prioritisation is both exciting and inspiring. We are driven by a need to tackle the big issues head on and find ways in which we can contribute to the nature positive agenda.

'Fundamentally, we are both passionate about nature and like so many people out there, we want to do something to help it. The MSc NR3 will enable us to channel our love of nature into a degree designed to find solutions that work for all walks of life, human and non-human.'

For more information about the MSc in Nature Recovery, Restoration and Rewilding at the University of Manchester please contact one or both of the Co-Programme Directors: Dr Anna Gilchrist (anna.gilchrist@manchester.ac.uk) and Dr Ian Thornhill (ian.thornhill@manchester.ac.uk).