ARIES Project - Prof Zoe Davies

View of forest from above

ARIES Project

Restoring tropical biodiversity, carbon stores and forest integrity through ecosystem restoration licences - Professor Zoe Davies

Ecology and Conservation

Restoring tropical biodiversity, carbon stores and forest integrity through ecosystem restoration licences  

Deforestation and forest degradation are key causes of carbon emissions and biodiversity decline in tropical countries. Tackling these challenges requires innovative ways to manage disturbed habitats. Ecosystem restoration licenses (ERLs) offer a commercial mechanism through which degraded forest can be restored back to ecological equilibrium. Pioneered by Indonesia, ERLs could herald an era of improved forest management across the tropics. Nonetheless, key questions remain regarding their effectiveness.  

RSPB's Harapan Rainforest restoration project in Sumatra provides an excellent case study, as the first ERL in Indonesia operating for 95-years. This PhD will examine the likely effectiveness of ERLs in achieving positive ecological outcomes (e.g. carbon storage, biodiversity and forest regeneration) and how best to finance these objectives at Harapan.   

Methodology 

The student will analyse longitudinal biodiversity (bird and mammal) datasets from Harapan, assessing how they relate to different restoration activities and human pressures in the wider landscape. The student will also contribute to ongoing biodiversity surveys (e.g. camera trapping, bioacoustics). Using these data, a series of biodiversity indicators will be derived that will feed into the long-term monitoring strategy for the site. Ecological economic approaches will be used to collate and analyse restoration/management cost data forest for Harapan. By integrating this with remote-sensed data (e.g. satellite imagery, drone footage) on forest degradation/regeneration, the cost-effectiveness of the restoration activities can be investigated. This will provide critical information that will inform the establishment of sustainable finance mechanisms (e.g. voluntary carbon markets) for ERLs. Finally, the student will have the opportunity to examine the ecological outcomes of ERLs across Indonesia by conducting an impact evaluation using statistical spatial matching, complementing the case study research. 

Training 

The student will receive extensive training in advanced analytical skills (e.g. R and GIS) , plus academic skills (e.g. writing journal papers, giving conference presentations). Additionally, they will gain transferable skills (e.g. time management, collaboration NGO partners). 

Supervisory Team 

Person Specification 

The student will be interested in combining ecological data with management cost information to produce high-impact, policy-relevant research. They will have a degree in conservation, ecology or environmental sciences, with experience of conducting ecological fieldwork and strong analytical skills (including GIS). 

References

  • Budiharta S, Meijaard E, Gaveau D, Struebig M […] & Wilson KA. (2018) Restoration to offset the impacts of developments at a landscape scale reveals opportunities, challenges and tough choices, Global Environmental Change, 52, 152-161 
  • Harrison R, Swinfield T, Ayat A, Dewi S, Silalahi M, Heriansyah I. (2020). Restoration concessions: a second lease on life for beleaguered tropical forests? Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 18, 567–575Harrison R, Swinfield T, Ayat A, Dewi S, Silalahi M, Heriansyah I. (2020). Restoration concessions: a second lease on life for beleaguered tropical forests? Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 18, 567–575
  • Bicknell, J., O’Hanley, J., Armsworth, P, Slade, E., Deere, N., Mitchell, S., Hemprich-Bennett, D., Kemp, V., Rossiter, S., Lewis, O., Coomes, D., Agama, A., Reynolds, G., Struebig, M., Davies, Z. (2023). Enhancing the ecological value of oil palm agriculture through set-asides. Nature Sustainability, 1–13. 
  • Deere N, Guillera-Arroita G, Swinfield T, Milodowski DT, Coomes DA, Bernard H, Reynolds G, Davies ZG & Struebig MJ. (2020). Maximizing the value of forest restoration for tropical mammals by detecting three-dimensional habitat associations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117, 26254-26262
  • Armsworth PR, Cantu-Salazar L, Parnell M, Davies ZG & Stoneman R (2011). Management costs for small protected areas and economies of scale in habitat conservation. Biological Conservation, 144, 423-429

How to apply


Candidates should apply using the online application form, indicating the project they wish to be considered. Deadline to submit a form is 10th January 2024, 23:59 GMT. 

You will need to upload:

  • CV  - no more than 2 pages
  • One page Cover Letter - you may wish to give details about your academic/professional background, your future career plans, your interests etc. You could also detail here why you are a good candidate for this project, and how your skills, experiences, and qualifications mean you are well suited to the PhD. Don’t worry if you don’t have experience outside of your degree – we recognise that different people have different opportunities to gain experience and you won’t be disadvantaged. You might discuss what training you think you need to become a successful researcher, or what your aspirations are for the future. We are really interested in your potential as well as what you’ve already achieved.
  • Scanned copies of your official degree transcript(s) - if the originals are not in English, you will need to provide official translations. If you have not yet graduated, you should be able to obtain an interim transcript showing the results from your degree to date (if you are only one semester into your course – for example an MSc – then this is not needed).