Writtle University College and ARU have merged. Writtle’s full range of college, degree, postgraduate and short courses will still be delivered on the Writtle campus. See our guide to finding Writtle information on this site.

Image of Ouse Washes, credit Bob Jones https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13906026

Debating Nature's Value

The concept of ‘natural capital’ is at the forefront of national conservation discussions. Our Network will examine its core tenets, the issues raised by a black-and-white economic approach, and the importance of an open discourse on how to best tackle biodiversity challenges.


This project, which is funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council, is led by Dr Rupert Read from the University of East Anglia and Prof Aled Jones from Anglia Ruskin University.


It will create a dynamic network of experts and stakeholders - from artists, academics and practitioners, to campaigners, policy makers and business people – to collaborate and debate the issues around natural capital.

Focusing initially on the East of England, the debates will have wider implications for the way nature is valued across the UK and beyond. The workshop and discussions hosted by the Network will engage with current discourse and inform policy going forward.

The legacy of the two year project will include policy proposals and a bank of resources. The project will culminate with a joint conference and art exhibition, featuring commissioned art work by Rosanna Greaves in 2018.

Think Piece

Read the project's first thinkpiece in full, setting out out the projects aims and intended outputs, as well as some key issues for network members to engage with.


This project is in partnership with the University of East Anglia

About the network:

Who we are and how to join

DNV network events

Resources

useful links to inform the debate

Glossary of terms