Welcome

As we write this summer 2022 newsletter climate change is firmly at the centre of international focus.  In the UK and Europe we have experienced record breaking temperatures, Pakistan has received 60% of total normal monsoon rainfall in just three weeks  and we see global sea levels rising as a result of human-caused global warming, with recent rates being unprecedented over the past 2,500-plus years.  Our work at Environment Systems delivers the evidence required to contribute to addressing some of these and other pressing environmental challenges.  Below you can read about two such projects along with the profile of Jacqueline Parker, one of our Principal Consultants leading work in this arena.  We also share a brief introduction to our latest recruits strengthening our 40 strong team of scientists, analysts, geographers, IT experts and ecologists.

Contents

Developing a Natural Capital Strategy for Derbyshire
A Royal endorsement for PASTORAL
Profiling Jacqueline Parker; Principal Consultant and Chartered Geographer
Environment Systems new recruits

Developing a Natural Capital Strategy for Derbyshire

The environment and its natural capital are priorities for government across the UK. In England, the role of natural capital in delivering ecosystem services is captured in the 25 year environment plan “A Green Future: Our 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment”. Measures to maintain, enhance and sustain natural capital are key policies in this plan. 

These measures have been adopted in county and district-level strategies across the UK including Derbyshire County Council.  In September 2021, they  appointed Environment Systems,  with their project partners Eftec and SLR, to lead the development of their natural capital strategy.   You can read more about the project partners at the end of this article.

The developing strategy provides an evidence base to inform the council in its decision-making, place-shaping and investments, and decision-making by external and partner organisations (e.g. unitary, district and borough councils, and the National Park Authority). The project considers all the natural capital assets that are key to the county’s future prosperity, health and wellbeing. 

Key requirements in any natural capital strategy are an understanding of existing natural capital  assets, and the type, value and distribution of the benefits they provide, together with an agreed  plan for maintenance and enhancement. To achieve this we are delivering spatial analysis and considering how the extent, condition and location of natural assets contribute to the size, distribution and value of ecosystem services and their risks and opportunities. 

Any prioritisation considers climate change implications for maximising the economic, social and environmental benefits. The study then identifies the priority areas for the protection, restoration and enhancement of each of these natural capital assets, focusing on delivering the right natural capital asset in the right place. 

The outcomes include; 

• The mapping of ecological networks that robustly demonstrate/ model habitat connectivity
• The mapping of  areas of strategic priority and opportunity for biodiversity
• The implementation  of biodiversity metrics for delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain

One of the tools that is being employed to undertake this project is SENCE which uses Earth observation, available datasets and scientific knowledge to produce maps and  data that show natural capital (the existing value of the environment in terms of service provision),  risks to ecosystem services, and the best places to enhance them.  Services include biodiversity (incorporating ecological networks); pollination; food; natural flood management; erosion risk management; water quality (sediment); climate regulation (soil and vegetation carbon); green infrastructure and blue (water) infrastructure; culture and heritage. The climate context is key to SENCE and the climate models and forecasts form a key component of  this. Opportunity maps identify the best places to invest time, resources and money to achieve sustainable outcomes. Environment Systems has deployed SENCE across over 60 projects for partnerships in governments, local government, companies and NGOs across the world.

The outcomes from the project  will assist Local Planning Authorities across Derbyshire in meeting their national planning policy framework requirements and provide an evidence base to underpin Local Nature Recovery Strategies and other requirements contained within the emerging Environment Bill.

The project is due to complete in September 2022. 

 The Project Partners 

 Environment Systems has provided trusted environmental evidence and insight to governments and industry worldwide since 2003.

eftec is a leader in the natural capital approach, having developed accounting methods for the Natural Capital Committee and as an author of the natural capital protocol.

SLR is a leader in global environmental and advisory services, providing advice and services to clients in the built environment, financial, infrastructure, industry, mining and minerals, landscape and heritage sectors.

A Royal Endorsement for PASTORAL

The Duke of Cornwall joined 150 people in Cornwall on the 19th of July as they celebrated a “remarkable” 10 years of farmer-led research with the Innovative Farmers network.

His Royal Highness saw demonstrations of the field labs that are pioneering sustainable practices for farming.  Director Steve Keyworth had an opportunity to introduce him to PASTORAL (Pasture Optimisation for Resilience and Livelihoods) an Environment Systems project funded by Innovate UK and undertaken in partnership with the Soil Association and the University of Edinburgh.

PASTORAL is working with farmers across the country to develop a digital tool providing near real-time pasture biomass and carbon data. Satellite imagery and advanced algorithms will deliver weekly reports helping farmers improve pasture performance and management.

The initial test data has been sent to participating farmers, to initiate a discussion to understand what data will be most beneficial, in what format, and how it can best be of use. With this feedback, we can shape the development of the tool. 

 

Addressing the event, His Royal Highness said he was “very proud” to have been able to support Innovative Farmers and that the event was a “wonderful opportunity” to see so many people doing “remarkable things all over the country”.

He said: “It’s been fascinating to see the results of these field labs”, he added: “I’ve always felt that nature herself has so many of the answers and that if we read the book of nature carefully enough, we discover that she’s created this astonishing, miraculous really, waste free circularity. And that’s what I hope we can all build on, because technology can’t provide all the answers, the combination of the two, precision technology and so on, and these extraordinary lessons we’ve learnt from nature can be hugely beneficial and very powerful.”

Profiling Jacqueline Parker, Principal Consultant

We are delighted to share with you that Jacqueline Parker, one of our Principal Consultants, was recently awarded chartered status by the Royal Geographical Society, an internationally recognised award in geographical expertise, innovation and outstanding professionalism. 

Below Jacqueline talks about some of her career highlights and what makes her tick.

“Throughout my career, I have drawn on and continue to develop my geographical skills. I intuitively think spatially, it shapes the way I contribute to our work at Environment Systems: the methodologies I propose for projects, how I problem solve or prepare a value proposition for business expansion to new geographies.

The professional accreditation of being a Chartered Geographer gives further credence to my skills, helping me further “where” as an important, sometimes critical, consideration for taking climate action and managing land sustainably. 

I helped develop the Environment Systems spatial analysis tool for natural capital evaluation (SENCE) by guiding the conceptualisation of a “spatial framework” for assessing and quantifying the role of habitats in delivering ecosystem services. SENCE is a place-based tool – it uses spatial datasets, modelling and local knowledge to locate the best places to take conservation action. It is inherently geographical. More recently, I managed EO4cultivar, a five-year international demonstration project that developed crop monitoring and forecasting products that are now commercialised. I actively work to communicate the value of these approaches. 

I often work on strategic projects synthesising knowledge and data to make recommendations to inform policy. I have presented at COP26, conferences, webinars, panel discussions and industry forums. Trade missions I have attended facilitated international partnership building for agri-tech and natural capital projects.

Learning about how food commodity supply chains are working to achieve sustainability and Net-Zero has formed the main focus of my professional development as I develop and bring our business offer to this important growing market. Working with a consultancy partner 3keel, I led our GIS analysts to locate and quantify potential Greenhouse gas losses from ‘legal deforestation’ in Brazil and Indonesia. Allowing ‘legal deforestation’ poses a risk for UK companies wishing to operate sustainably; so we calculated how much unprotected natural land, such as woodland and natural grasslands, could be legally deforested in key regions that UK companies source commodities such as soy from. Understanding how to work with multiple spatial datasets was key: knowing what each dataset represents and how this relates to deforestation legislation. Combining spatial data with differing spatial resolutions requires careful assessment to ensure it will create valid results, assumptions and limitations of the analysis need to be communicated. WWF, our client, launched a campaign to strengthen the Environment Bill using the project evidence. “

Jacqueline is based at our Edinburgh office at The Bayes Centre, the innovation hub of Edinburgh University. When not working she enjoys living by the sea where you might find her wild swimming, beachcombing, or just admiring the view.

Environment Systems new recruits

Environment Systems continues to expand our team, strengthening our expertise and growing our capacity. Below is a brief introduction to the four team members joining us this quarter.

Ffion Owen joins us as an Assistant Ecologist. Ffion holds a BSc in Ecology from Aberystwyth University with an interest in both ecology and agriculture, with many years of experience of working on numerous farms. Away from work, Ffion spends time on the beach and walking the Welsh mountains!

Lizzie Waring has been appointed as an Assistant Ecologist, joining habitat surveying and mapping projects based in Mid and West Wales. Lizzie has a background in microbial ecology and metagenomics, studying BSc Ecology at Aberystwyth University before continuing on with an MPhil as part of the Aberystwyth Mycology Research Group. Lizzie is a fan of hillsides, has pet rats, and reads a lot.

Dr Louise Soanes joins us as an Environmental Consultant. Following the completion of her PhD at the University of Liverpool, Louise has spent the last 10 years working in the Caribbean on various conservation projects including seabird and turtle tracking, endangered species recovery and the development of marine and terrestrial protected areas. Louise has worked closely with Environment Systems on various projects over the years including the development of a sustainable mangrove management plan in the British Virgin Islands, and a project to improve coastal resilience in the face of climate change in Anguilla.  

Susie Hudson joins us as our Marketing Lead, Susie has worked as a Marketing Consultant for many years for different businesses across a variety of industries and brings a wealth of digital marketing experience, PR and business growth. She holds an MBA from Exeter University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Management. Susie is based in South West Devon and loves sailing, mountain biking, paddle boarding and exploring the gorgeous countryside in the AONB where she lives.