Our research is based on the consideration of landscapes as integrated 'socio-ecological systems'. This approach helps us to understand the interactions between their social, economic and ecological components.

In previous ecological studies, as well as in neoclassical microeconomics, people have often been seen as impartial observers or external drivers, who influence ecosystems but are not influenced by them.

Understanding the complex interactions between social, economic and ecological components means recognising that human beings play an integral part in landscape change, and that people are cental to integrated assessments of land use systems.

The ‘socio-ecological systems’ concept captures the idea that humans are part of this larger process.

Principal Research Areas

• Protecting and Enhancing Landscapes and Rural Communities
• Climate Change
• Farm-scale Integrated Modelling Frameworks (IMF)
• Framework for Evaluation and Assessment of Regional Land Use Scenarios
• Habitat Suitability and Multi-functional Landscapes
• Stakeholder and Public Participation
• Geographic Modelling for Planning, Environmental and Criminal Investigation