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How can we protect nature in an era of ever-expanding human influence? With the impacts of human activity being felt more greatly than ever before, there is an increasing need for novel solutions. Come and join us for a night exploring how magical creatures can influence conservation, and how we can incorporate the natural world in to the most urban environments.
Fantastic beasts and why to conserve them
Caroline Ward
(Research Fellow )
Dr George Holmes
(Professor of Conservation and Society)
Conservation can be magical. Literally. And this complicates things. That is why protesters in Iceland will blockade road building projects which threaten the habitat of the endemic Icelandic elf. And why in some parts of Ethiopia people will protect Hyenas because they eat evil spirits. And why Caribbean owls are endangered because people persecute them because they are witches. We explore how beliefs in magic can endanger but also protect species, with important real world impacts. We show how this produces complex ethical and practical dilemmas for conservation, and talk about solutions.
Parks, ponds, people, and paradise: making space for nature in cities
Dr Christopher Hassall
(Lecturer in Animal Biology)
In 2008, 50% of the world’s population lived in cities. The tremendous increase in urban populations has necessitated a reconsideration of how people and nature can cohabit, to ensure that we reduce our impact on wildlife while still receiving all the benefits that nature provides. I will discuss how climate change and red cars have jeopardised urban animals, and how trees and ponds can save lives.
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