Scientists gathering invertebrate samples (credit: Mark Hamblin)
Research and evidence
Our work to restore Norfolk’s wildlife is based on sound evidence and ecological principals. Science, including both ecology and social science, guides our policies, decision-making and actions on land, in our rivers and at sea.
Our research and evidence work includes:
- Developing research projects to gather evidence and monitor our work by collaborating with academic institutions, local wildlife recorders and citizen science projects.
- Learning and development programmes to embed scientific evidence in the work of our staff.
- Monitoring and measuring the impacts of work for people and wildlife.
- Supporting the delivery of financially and environmentally sustainable land management.
- Delivering species recovery projects based on the latest research and evidence.
- Increasing our understanding of how climate change impacts nature’s recovery and developing strategies for climate adaptation and resilience.
- Researching and evaluating our work with communities across Norfolk.
Our research priorities
Norfolk Wildlife Trust is currently focusing on the following four areas of research:
Biodiversity, species & habitats
Understanding the pressures and drivers of changes to biodiversity, species and habitats in Norfolk, on both land and in the marine environment. This includes:
- Developing novel methods to conserve, recover, enhance, create and connect quality habitat in Norfolk’s landscapes.
- Investigating trends in priority species in Norfolk, including both marine and terrestrial species.
Climate change, nature-based solutions & economics
Understanding and evaluating the local impacts of climate change on nature and people in Norfolk. Research should aim to give nature the best possible chance to adapt in time to the existing and incoming challenges. Nature-based solutions address societal and environmental challenges by restoring and managing habitats and ecosystems in a sustainable way that benefits both people and nature, which this topic also aims to investigate and analyse.
Understanding the economic value of nature and its contribution to economic growth, whether that be through provision (e.g. food production), regulation (e.g. clean air and water) or its cultural value. This topic explores nature’s ‘assets’ (Natural Capital), ecosystem services and sustainable finance and business in Norfolk, and then looks at how these economies can be used to exert real influence on local policy and decision makers for the benefit of Norfolk’s wildlife.
Technology for nature conservation
Utilising new and emerging technology to aid and increase the efficiency, accuracy and power of our work, for example investigating monitoring via remote sensing and making the most of applications like GIS to analyse and share spatial data for quantitative analysis of our efforts, as well as enhanced collaboration with partners.
People & nature
Measuring the benefits and social value of nature for people in Norfolk, looking at health, wellbeing, education and understanding the impacts of public engagement. Arts based research can influence how we communicate nature, for example, whilst well-designed citizen science programmes can encourage meaningful action for nature, valuable data collection and engagement.
Research publications
Read some of the publications produced by Norfolk Wildlife Trust's staff, researchers and partners.
(credit: Phil Barnes)
Student portal
We offer limited opportunities for student research, selected on a case-by-case basis.
Projects must address our core research themes and deliver research of value to NWT.