University of Oxford
11a Mansfield Rd
OX1 3SZ
UK
Our Vision
Our vision is to support a transformative shift towards more equitable, inclusive approaches to conservation that fully respect human rights and are effective. We do so through field research and policy engagement, by working closely with the different actors involved, including by supporting local environmental stewardship by indigenous peoples and local communities.
Our Approach
We are working with a range of actors to develop policy and inform best practice.
We are working with local people, including indigenous peoples, to help them document their contributions to conservation and gain recognition and support for their land rights claims.
We use interdisciplinary, mixed methods and participatory approaches.
We carry out field research, desk-based global analyses, and policy research.
Theme Members
Helen Newing
Amber Butler
Jasmin Willis
Juliet Wright
Emily-Jane Lewis-Brown
Henry Travers
Brittany Bartlett
Yuhan Li
Lucy Radford
Éilish Farrelly
Jessie D'Urso
Niak Sian Koh
Lilli Ireland
Sathvika Krishnan
Guilherme Hissa Villas Boas
Rachana Sam At
Adroit Takudzwa Chakandinakira
Fredrick Kioko Kilonzo
Publications
Here are some academic publications that represent the breadth of our work. For a more complete list of publications, please see individual researchers’ profiles.
, , , & (2026). Enabling conditions for conservation on Indigenous and community lands. Conservation Biology, 40, e70055. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.70055
, , , , , , , , , & (2026). Addressing the challenges of managing and monitoring biodiversity in High Conservation Value areas and High Carbon Stock forests within oil palm landscapes. Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 7, e70162. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.70162
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , & (2025). Gap analysis of social science resources for conservation practice. Conservation Biology, 39, e14463. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14463
Milner-Gulland EJ (2024) Now is the time for conservationists to stand up for social justice. PLoS Biol 22(6): e3002657. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002657
Newing, H., S. Brittain, A. Buchadas, O. del Giorgio, C. Fallon Grasham, R. Ferritto, J.R. Garcia Marquez, M. Khanyari, B. König, A. Kulkarni, R. Murali, S. Qin, J. Rakowski, F. Winn, A. Ghoddousi. 2024. ‘Participatory’ conservation research involving indigenous peoples and local communities: Fourteen principles for good practice. Biological Conservation 296, 110708. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110708.
Newing, H., Fisher, M., Brittain, S., Kenrick, J., & Milner-Gulland, E. (2023). How can we advance equitable, rights-based conservation? Oryx, 57(3), 273-274. https://doi:10.1017/S0030605323000418
Brittain S, Tugendhat H, Newing H, Milner-Gulland EJ. Conservation and the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities: looking forwards. Oryx. 2021;55(5):641-642. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605321000946
Brittain, S et al. (2020) Ethical considerations when conservation research involves people. Conservation Biology. 10.1111/cobi.13464
Newing, H., & Perram, A. (2019). What do you know about conservation and human rights? Oryx, 53(4), 595-596. https://doi:10.1017/S0030605319000917
Other Outputs
This is where you can find our reports, policy briefs and all other materials published outside of academic journals.
Introduction-to-community-based-environmental-monitoring (also available in Spanish, Swahili, Thai and French here)
Ensuring the sustainability of customary use on Indigenous and community-held lands (also available in Spanish, Swahili, Thai and French here)
Conservation and human rights: an introduction (also available in Spanish and French here)