Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science

In Friday's Nature talk Francesca Vitali will discuss saving #rhinos & protecting ecosystems! Her pilot health monitoring in Kenya aims to make translocations smarter, safer, & more effective—boosting species recovery, ecosystem resilience & One Health.🦏 oxfordbiodiversitynetwork.bookwhen.com

New study warns of 'creeping catastrophy' as climate change drives a Infectious diseases such as malaria, dengue, and tuberculosis are considered to pose as great a challenge to global health as new or emerging pathogens, according to a major international study led

NEW: Infectious diseases like malaria, dengue, and tuberculosis are considered to pose a major challenge to global health.

The study warns that climate change, poverty, and drug resistance are combining to create a rising crisis - a potential 'creeping catastrophe' if ignored.

Island-confined reptiles face high extinction risk, but low research interest Reptile species found only on islands are significantly more vulnerable to extinction than their mainland counterparts, yet remain vastly overlooked by researchers, according to a recent study. “Repti...

About 30% of island-restricted reptiles are currently threatened with extinction (vs 12% of mainland reptile species). Yet, just 6.7% of the published research from 1960-2021 is devoted to island species @mongabay.com

@biology.ox.ac.uk @jesusoxford.bsky.social

news.mongabay.com/short-articl...

Thanks for a fantastic talk, Esteban!

Community-based monitoring of river health and biodiversity - Transformative Pathways This guide for Indigenous Peoples and local communities presents a variety of options for monitoring the health of your local rivers and the diversity of life (biodiversity) that they support.

New guidance under the #TransformativePathways project, led by @albanaberberi.bsky.social in collaboration with @forestpeoplesp.bsky.social

transformativepathways.net/community-ba...

We still have some seats for our talk this Friday, do join us in person and stay for the drinks reception afterwards, or join online. Register here oxfordbiodiversitynetwork.bookwhen.com 🍃

Our new study shows that island populations of grey long-eared #bats have distinct DNA haplotypes compared to mainland populations, reflecting long-term isolation & independent evolutionary trajectories: link.springer.com/article/10.1... @iccs.bsky.social @jesusoxford.bsky.social @biology.ox.ac.uk

This Friday's lecture from Cristina Banks-Leite looks to be a thought-provoking one, so sign up to attend on-line, or in-person (followed by a drinks reception) oxfordbiodiversitynetwork.bookwhen.com

@ecioxford.bsky.social @biology.ox.ac.uk @oxfordgeography.bsky.social

Women play vital, but often overlooked, roles in wildmeat systems worldwide.

A review of 300+ studies across 54 countries highlights women's influence from household consumption to market trade, yet their voices are rarely heard in decision-making.

👉 doi.org/10.1002/pan3...

@biology.ox.ac.uk

Island reptiles face extinction before they are even studied, warns A new study led by the University of Oxford has revealed that reptiles confined to islands are facing a double jeopardy. Despite being more likely to go extinct than mainland species, they remain

NEW: An Oxford-led study has found that reptiles confined to islands face double jeopardy - they’re more likely to go extinct than mainland species, yet remain largely overlooked by researchers.

Read more ⬇️

Island reptiles face extinction before they are even studied

Reptiles confined to islands are facing a double jeopardy 🦎

New research from @ricardonature.bsky.social shows that 30% of island reptiles are threatened with extinction (compared to 12.1% of reptiles overall) - but only 6.7% of reptile-focused research since 1960 has studied them 👇
bit.ly/3LqQo1F

Rethinking Conservation: Reflections from ICN 2025 - ICCS By Oluchi Agodi, a participant in the Interdisciplinary Conservation Network 2025. When I received the email confirming my selection for the 2025 Interdisciplinary Conservation Network (ICN) Workshop ...

"ICN reminded me that even with the best intentions, we must keep reflecting and refining how we engage...Whose voices are missing? Whose knowledge do we prioritize? Are we listening deeply enough before deciding what’s best?"

iccs.org.uk/rethinking-c...

Join us this Friday when @julespretty.bsky.social will be leading an important discussion on 'How Story Creates Agency for the Nature and Climate Crises' oxfordbiodiversitynetwork.bookwhen.com

@ecioxford.bsky.social @oxfordgeography.bsky.social @biology.ox.ac.uk @iccs.bsky.social

Our new paper (brilliantly led by @theflyingpat.bsky.social) shows that birds & bats can naturally suppress rice pests in West African rice landscapes - offering a sustainable solution as global rice demand grows. www.jesus.ox.ac.uk/research-rev... @jesusoxford.bsky.social @iccs.bsky.social

A lovely post from Nelson Mandela University about this year's Interdisciplinary Conservation Network (ICN).

news.mandela.ac.za/News/Global-...

PhD opportunity: Examining the role of public acceptance on the success of island restoration initiatives 🏝️🐀🤝 w. @rspb.bsky.social

* Project outline: e5-dtp.ed.ac.uk/project?item...
* Deadline: Sunday 14th December 2025
* How to apply: e5-dtp.ed.ac.uk/applications...

Happy to answer questions!

Using life cycle assessment as part of robust biodiversity strategy design This business briefing note uses academic research to understand the different types of uncertainty that occur across multiple stages in LCA.

Our team launched a new business briefing today at the European Business and Nature Summit in Helsinki 🌿

It explores how Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can support robust, evidence-based biodiversity strategies — helping organisations understand their full impacts on nature and take effective action.

Extremely proud to have been part of the 2025 ICN workshop held in George, SA! This collaboration between NMU and @ox.ac.uk brought young conservationists together to discuss important topics in #conservation. Visit @iccs.bsky.social for updates and blog posts from participants. I am inspired! ❤️

What Interdisciplinarity Feels Like in Practice - ICCS By Sonakshi Srivastava, a participant in the Interdisciplinary Conservation Network 2025.   I am not going to lie: as a social scientist, I am still a little scared of natural scientists. It is hard t...

Great blog to start the week: reflections from @sonakshis.bsky.social on the 2025 Interdisciplinary Conservation Network.

"The highlight of ICN for me was the people. Their presence reminded me of what interdisciplinarity truly looks like and what it takes to build it."

iccs.org.uk/what-interdi...

1 day left to apply ⏰

The Masterclass in Mitigating Illegal Wildlife Trade is a free course aimed at practitioners, policy makers and researchers based in West Africa, wishing to learn about combating wildlife trafficking

📆 Deadline: 17th October
✅ Apply here: https://ow.ly/k6hN50Xc6PM

So happy that the first chapter of my PhD has been published! We explored where women exist in tropical wild meat systems, what they do & why. Huge thanks to my co-authors and my wonderful supervisory team 🙌

Returning to reality after a special week at Nelson Mandela University for #ICN2025 @iccs.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk 🇿🇦

I got to meet 30 fellow conservation ECRs from all over the world, where we learnt from each other, heard about exciting research projects, shared stories and made new friendships.

Applications are still open for the next Masterclass on Mitigating Illegal Wildlife Trade. Find out more about the course and apply here.
https://ow.ly/qxGK50XaJM8
Feel free to ask any questions via the comments below or email (see address in the link above)
#masterclass #westafrica

Media–public disconnect on wild meat narratives in central Africa during COVID-19

A great example from earlier this year of research carried out by the Masterclass on Mitigating Illegal Wildlife Trade course co-leader, Dan Challender, and colleagues, exposed a disconnect between the media and public perceptions of wild meat in the wake of COVID-19
https://ow.ly/F1Zt50X3mnX

- YouTube Delivering a better-informed wildlife trade

"We often focus on hunters... But there's a whole range of other people involved."

Hear about the complexities of the #wildlifetrade from the course leaders of the Masterclass on Mitigating Wildlife, Amy Hinsley and Dan Challender, alongside E.J. Milner-Gulland https://ow.ly/tAHV50X3mql

Gender dynamics of tropical wildmeat systems: A systematic map of women's roles and influence Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

But their inclusion in wild meat management is poorly documented. Recognising their contributions & addressing gendered barriers is essential for effective management & equitable conservation.

👉 Read here: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

🚨Women are central to tropical wild meat systems, yet too often overlooked🚨

A new paper led by @jasminwillis.bsky.social, Dr Lauren Coad, @orchiddelirium.bsky.social & @ejmilnergulland.bsky.social reviewed 334 studies across 54 countries, finding women occupy 36 roles, from harvesting to trade.

In case you missed it last week, the next Masterclass on Mitigating Illegal Wildlife Trade is now open for applications 🎉. Find out more here https://ow.ly/qS0y50X3min
📆 Deadline: 17th October
#IllegalWildlifeTrade #WestAfrica

The Masterclass on Mitigating Illegal Wildlife Trade is back! Aimed at practitioners, researchers and policymakers in West Africa addressing illegal wildlife trade. Led by Oxford academics and colleagues. Apply here tinyurl.com/mu5d7f4f #illegalwildlifetrade

YouTube video by Oxford Biodiversity Network GMT20250904 080202 Recording 1760x900

In case you missed the Nature Impacts webinar earlier this month you can catch it on YouTube now!

@biology.ox.ac.uk @iccs.bsky.social