The concept of ‘natural capital’ is at the forefront of national conservation discussions. This Network examined 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, funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council, was led by Dr Rupert Read from the University of East Anglia and Prof Aled Jones from Anglia Ruskin University. It created 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 had wider implications for the way nature is valued across the UK and beyond. The workshop and discussions hosted by the Network engaged with current discourse and aimed to inform policy going forward.
The legacy of the two-year project included policy proposals and a bank of resources. The project culminated with a joint conference and art exhibition, featuring commissioned art work by Rosanna Greaves in 2018.
Published in 2016, this piece set out the project's aims and intended outputs, as well as some key issues for network members to engage with.