Take part in new research:

co-design to improve biodiversity outcomes on common land  

Foundation for Common Land are supervising a new PhD research project in collaboration with National Trust and the University of Exeter that is all about working with commoners and other groups in the Lake District to co-design a future for upland landscapes that meets the needs of people, nature and climate. The research aims to:

·        Work with farmers to develop the tools and knowledge to have greater ownership of the evidence and data that underpins

environmental decision-making

·        To model the consequences for nature of different ways common land could be used in future

·        To explore how this approach affects farmer engagement, empowerment and decision-making about common land 

Approach: 

We will be working closely with commoners on Kinniside and Derwent commons, local community organisations and local decision-makers. There will be three phases to the work.

1.      Working with farmers to develop tools and knowledge that give more control over environmental data and improving our understanding of the current condition of the common. Work with Foundation for Common Land to provide training for commoners to measure and assess habitat condition and soil health; record and map farmer knowledge of the common and changes that have taken place; and create updatable habitats maps using remote sensing technology and based on farmer inputs.

2.      Use farmer feedback and modelling to explore different ways of managing the common in the future. Work with farmers and others to brainstorm potential management strategies for the commons, then use ecological modelling to predict the impact on habitat, species abundance, and farmer income of those strategies. Develop an interactive tool where farmers can test how different actions affect nature and income.

3.      Evaluate how effective this approach is for farmers and partners like National Trust and Natural England, to inform better decision-making on commons in the longer term both on Derwent and Kinniside, as well as potentially in other upland commons around England.  

 Next steps:

The research will be kicking off this summer. If you are interested in contributing to this research, especially if you have an interest and experience in commoning on Derwent or Kinniside Commons, please get in touch with:

Jo Furtado at jf760@exeter.ac.uk or 07990769294

“This project aims to develop holistic decision-making about environmental land management. We hope that by integrating farmer knowledge alongside ecological knowledge and a developing understanding of the role of policy, social capital and digital technology in management decisions, we can deliver solutions that work for people and nature on common land in the Lake District.”

     Professor Rosie Hails, Director of Science and Nature, National Trust