Paul Jepson
Biographic Data
| ID | 143385 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Paul Jepson |
| GIVEN NAMES | Paul |
| FAMILY NAME | Jepson |
| SIGNATURE | JEPSON P |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Oxford |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-1419-9981 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 25 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 100 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 25 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2002 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2022 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
To capitalise on the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, we need institutional redesign to empower advances in restoration ecology and rewilding
The UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration signifies the ambition to move beyond a defensive focus on biodiversity protection towards a proactive agenda of restoring ecosystems to generate value for people and nature. The international nature regime, based on the linked concepts of biodiversity and sustainable development, has achieved much. However, its institutions are built on a ‘compositional’ approach to ecology that ‘locks in’ arbitrary ecologi…
Revealing the hidden value of protected areas
Monitoring and mapping non-governmental conservation action in Amazonia
A culturomics approach to quantifying the salience of species on the global internet
Conservation will only be successful over the long term if people support conservation goals. While many factors may influence the level of such support, it is clear that people are more willing to conserve species and places that they are familiar with and which provide them with something they value. Until now this dimension has been largely lacking from conservation decision‐making and its underlying scientific evidence base. This is understan…
Recoverable Earth
Rewilding may signify the emergence of a new environmental narrative. Discussion of underlying policy narratives is important because they shape understandings of the state of world and how society should act. I summarise the origins of twentieth century environmental narratives and argue that their influence derives from components telling of the dire state of nature, the catastrophic consequences of this and the need for competent authorities t…
Nature Conservation
Nature conservation is an attempt to protect valued elements of the nonhuman world from deliberate or accidental harm caused by human activities. Because not everyone agrees on what should be conserved, nature conservation can be politically contentious. With origins in the late nineteenth century, it was a defining cultural movement of the twentieth century that gained high‐level policy attention on several occasions and manifested in different …
Examining the Effect of Billboards in Shaping the Great Wolf Debate of the American West
Large carnivore reintroductions have become commonplace in modern conservation. Despite the benefits of such initiatives, conflict with humans can jeopardize their success. Reintroductions of grey wolves (Canis lupus) in the American West are particularly polarizing, and opposing views are often popularized through visual media. We examined public billboards, both for and against wolves, in eastern Washington State. We used social science concept…
Exploring public perceptions of solutions to tree diseases in the UK
Tree diseases are on the increase in many countries and the implications of their appearance can be political, as well as ecological and economic. Preventative policy approaches to tree diseases are difficult to formulate because dispersal pathways for pest and pathogens are numerous, poorly known and likely to be beyond human management control. Genomic techniques could offer the quickest and most predictable approach to developing a disease tol…
Developing publicly acceptable tree health policy
The UK needs to develop effective policy responses to the spread of tree pathogens and pests. This has been given the political urgency following the media and other commentary associated with the arrival of a disease that causes 'dieback' of European Ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ) - a tree species with deep cultural associations. In 2014 the UK government published a plant biosecurity strategy and linked to this invested in research to inform policy…
Modelling Local Attitudes to Protected Areas in Developing Countries
During a time of intensifying competition for land, Protected Areas (PAs) are coming under increasing pressure to justify their status. Positive local attitudes to a PA are a potentially important component of any such justification, especially in the developing world where human pressure on natural resources is often high. However, despite numerous studies our understanding of what drives positive attitudes to PAs is still exceedingly limited. H…
Rewilding
Rewilding is being promoted as an ambitious alternative to current approaches to nature conservation. Interest is growing in popular and scientific literatures, and rewilding is the subject of significant comment and debate, outstripping scientific research and conservation practice. Projects and research are found the world over, with concentrations in Europe, North America, and on tropical islands. A common aim is to maintain, or increase, biod…
A Theory of Flagship Species Action
The flagship species approach is an enduring strategy in conservation. Academic discussion on flagship species has focussed on two dimensions: on what basis should they be selected and how have they been put to use. Here we consider a third dimension, namely the manner in which flagship species act and have the capacity to galvanise and influence conservation outcomes. Drawing on concepts from the social sciences, viz . affordance, framing, and a…
Social learning through a Redd + ‘village agreement’
This paper examines the process for establishing a ‘village agreement’ using the K alimantan F orests and C limate P artnership ( KFCP ) as a case study. REDD + is designed as a ‘performance‐based’ mechanism and requires a contractual agreement between the parties involved. Since its implementation will affect the life of forest‐dependent communities, it is vital that villagers have sufficient ability to negotiate their interests during the agree…
Nature apps
Apps are small task-orientated programs with the potential to integrate the computational and sensing capacities of smartphones with the power of cloud computing, social networking, and crowdsourcing. They have the potential to transform how humans interact with nature, cause a step change in the quantity and resolution of biodiversity data, democratize access to environmental knowledge, and reinvigorate ways of enjoying nature. To assess the ext…
Whose sustainability counts? Reflections on an Indian oasis and the drive for certified bamboo
This paper traces a controversial development in India called Lavasa. Lavasa is a new hill station being created in Maharashtra, which aims to tap into a new eco-city trend of urban development. In order to ascertain “world-class” status, the city requires globally recognized standards. This study follows the Forest Stewardship Council certification process. This seemingly easy model of bamboo certification assisted in identifying underlying exis…
The Legitimacy of Bamboo Certification
Bamboo is emerging as an important substitute for wood and wood fiber. Although bamboo can be assimilated within existing forest certification mechanisms, there is growing controversy among experts regarding the applicability and efficacy of adopting such instruments. Through an accumulation of fieldwork, interviews, and discussions among experts between 2005 and 2014, this article analyzes the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, as w…
Forest certification with Chinese characteristics
Forest certification is conceptualized as non-state market–driven (NSMD) governance, whereby forces within the market are used to drive sustainable practices at the forest management level and throughout supply chains. Whilst recent scholarship has considered the “cross fertilization” and hybrid nature of the state and non-state in creating sustainable forest governance, these studies have tended to focus on national cases involving democratic co…
What is a conservation actor
As a crisis-oriented discipline, conservation biology needs actions to understand the state of nature and thwart declines in biodiversity. Actors-traditionally individuals, institutions, and collectives-have been central to delivering such goals in practice. However, the definition of actors within the discipline has been narrow and their role in influencing conservation outcomes inadequately conceptualised. In this paper, we examine the question…
The Potential of Bamboo is Constrained by Outmoded Policy Frames
Defining Flagship Uses is Critical for Flagship Selection
Towards an intradisciplinary bio‐geography
Origins, Uses, and Transformation of Extinction Rhetoric
Governance and accountability of environmental NGOs
Scientists and the media
Despite the uncertainties associated with forecasts of the possible negative effects of climate change on natural environments, such research is often widely reported in the news media. Here we review the presentation in the UK news media and on the internet of an academic study published in Nature, forecasting future global extinctions as a result of climate change. The results and conclusions of the study were widely misrepresented, especially …
Histories of Protected Areas
National parks and wildlife sanctuaries are under threat both physically and as a social ideal in Indonesia following the collapse of the Suharto New Order regime (1967-1998). Opinion-makers perceive parks as representing elite special interest, constraining economic development and/or indigenous rights. We asked what was the original intention and who were the players behind the Netherlands Indies colonial government policy of establishing natur…
Governance and accountability of environmental NGOs
Scientists and the media
Despite the uncertainties associated with forecasts of the possible negative effects of climate change on natural environments, such research is often widely reported in the news media. Here we review the presentation in the UK news media and on the internet of an academic study published in Nature, forecasting future global extinctions as a result of climate change. The results and conclusions of the study were widely misrepresented, especially …
Histories of Protected Areas
National parks and wildlife sanctuaries are under threat both physically and as a social ideal in Indonesia following the collapse of the Suharto New Order regime (1967-1998). Opinion-makers perceive parks as representing elite special interest, constraining economic development and/or indigenous rights. We asked what was the original intention and who were the players behind the Netherlands Indies colonial government policy of establishing natur…
Social learning through a Redd + ‘village agreement’
This paper examines the process for establishing a ‘village agreement’ using the K alimantan F orests and C limate P artnership ( KFCP ) as a case study. REDD + is designed as a ‘performance‐based’ mechanism and requires a contractual agreement between the parties involved. Since its implementation will affect the life of forest‐dependent communities, it is vital that villagers have sufficient ability to negotiate their interests during the agree…
Nature apps
Apps are small task-orientated programs with the potential to integrate the computational and sensing capacities of smartphones with the power of cloud computing, social networking, and crowdsourcing. They have the potential to transform how humans interact with nature, cause a step change in the quantity and resolution of biodiversity data, democratize access to environmental knowledge, and reinvigorate ways of enjoying nature. To assess the ext…
Defining Flagship Uses is Critical for Flagship Selection
Recoverable Earth
Rewilding may signify the emergence of a new environmental narrative. Discussion of underlying policy narratives is important because they shape understandings of the state of world and how society should act. I summarise the origins of twentieth century environmental narratives and argue that their influence derives from components telling of the dire state of nature, the catastrophic consequences of this and the need for competent authorities t…
Forest certification with Chinese characteristics
Forest certification is conceptualized as non-state market–driven (NSMD) governance, whereby forces within the market are used to drive sustainable practices at the forest management level and throughout supply chains. Whilst recent scholarship has considered the “cross fertilization” and hybrid nature of the state and non-state in creating sustainable forest governance, these studies have tended to focus on national cases involving democratic co…
Towards an intradisciplinary bio‐geography
Origins, Uses, and Transformation of Extinction Rhetoric
Developing publicly acceptable tree health policy
The UK needs to develop effective policy responses to the spread of tree pathogens and pests. This has been given the political urgency following the media and other commentary associated with the arrival of a disease that causes 'dieback' of European Ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ) - a tree species with deep cultural associations. In 2014 the UK government published a plant biosecurity strategy and linked to this invested in research to inform policy…
The Potential of Bamboo is Constrained by Outmoded Policy Frames
Monitoring and mapping non-governmental conservation action in Amazonia
Exploring public perceptions of solutions to tree diseases in the UK
Tree diseases are on the increase in many countries and the implications of their appearance can be political, as well as ecological and economic. Preventative policy approaches to tree diseases are difficult to formulate because dispersal pathways for pest and pathogens are numerous, poorly known and likely to be beyond human management control. Genomic techniques could offer the quickest and most predictable approach to developing a disease tol…
Whose sustainability counts? Reflections on an Indian oasis and the drive for certified bamboo
This paper traces a controversial development in India called Lavasa. Lavasa is a new hill station being created in Maharashtra, which aims to tap into a new eco-city trend of urban development. In order to ascertain “world-class” status, the city requires globally recognized standards. This study follows the Forest Stewardship Council certification process. This seemingly easy model of bamboo certification assisted in identifying underlying exis…
Histories of Protected Areas
National parks and wildlife sanctuaries are under threat both physically and as a social ideal in Indonesia following the collapse of the Suharto New Order regime (1967-1998). Opinion-makers perceive parks as representing elite special interest, constraining economic development and/or indigenous rights. We asked what was the original intention and who were the players behind the Netherlands Indies colonial government policy of establishing natur…
Governance and accountability of environmental NGOs
Scientists and the media
Despite the uncertainties associated with forecasts of the possible negative effects of climate change on natural environments, such research is often widely reported in the news media. Here we review the presentation in the UK news media and on the internet of an academic study published in Nature, forecasting future global extinctions as a result of climate change. The results and conclusions of the study were widely misrepresented, especially …
Towards an intradisciplinary bio‐geography
Origins, Uses, and Transformation of Extinction Rhetoric
What is a conservation actor
As a crisis-oriented discipline, conservation biology needs actions to understand the state of nature and thwart declines in biodiversity. Actors-traditionally individuals, institutions, and collectives-have been central to delivering such goals in practice. However, the definition of actors within the discipline has been narrow and their role in influencing conservation outcomes inadequately conceptualised. In this paper, we examine the question…
The Potential of Bamboo is Constrained by Outmoded Policy Frames
Defining Flagship Uses is Critical for Flagship Selection
Forest certification with Chinese characteristics
Forest certification is conceptualized as non-state market–driven (NSMD) governance, whereby forces within the market are used to drive sustainable practices at the forest management level and throughout supply chains. Whilst recent scholarship has considered the “cross fertilization” and hybrid nature of the state and non-state in creating sustainable forest governance, these studies have tended to focus on national cases involving democratic co…
Whose sustainability counts? Reflections on an Indian oasis and the drive for certified bamboo
This paper traces a controversial development in India called Lavasa. Lavasa is a new hill station being created in Maharashtra, which aims to tap into a new eco-city trend of urban development. In order to ascertain “world-class” status, the city requires globally recognized standards. This study follows the Forest Stewardship Council certification process. This seemingly easy model of bamboo certification assisted in identifying underlying exis…
The Legitimacy of Bamboo Certification
Bamboo is emerging as an important substitute for wood and wood fiber. Although bamboo can be assimilated within existing forest certification mechanisms, there is growing controversy among experts regarding the applicability and efficacy of adopting such instruments. Through an accumulation of fieldwork, interviews, and discussions among experts between 2005 and 2014, this article analyzes the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, as w…
Rewilding
Rewilding is being promoted as an ambitious alternative to current approaches to nature conservation. Interest is growing in popular and scientific literatures, and rewilding is the subject of significant comment and debate, outstripping scientific research and conservation practice. Projects and research are found the world over, with concentrations in Europe, North America, and on tropical islands. A common aim is to maintain, or increase, biod…
A Theory of Flagship Species Action
The flagship species approach is an enduring strategy in conservation. Academic discussion on flagship species has focussed on two dimensions: on what basis should they be selected and how have they been put to use. Here we consider a third dimension, namely the manner in which flagship species act and have the capacity to galvanise and influence conservation outcomes. Drawing on concepts from the social sciences, viz . affordance, framing, and a…
Social learning through a Redd + ‘village agreement’
This paper examines the process for establishing a ‘village agreement’ using the K alimantan F orests and C limate P artnership ( KFCP ) as a case study. REDD + is designed as a ‘performance‐based’ mechanism and requires a contractual agreement between the parties involved. Since its implementation will affect the life of forest‐dependent communities, it is vital that villagers have sufficient ability to negotiate their interests during the agree…
Nature apps
Apps are small task-orientated programs with the potential to integrate the computational and sensing capacities of smartphones with the power of cloud computing, social networking, and crowdsourcing. They have the potential to transform how humans interact with nature, cause a step change in the quantity and resolution of biodiversity data, democratize access to environmental knowledge, and reinvigorate ways of enjoying nature. To assess the ext…
Modelling Local Attitudes to Protected Areas in Developing Countries
During a time of intensifying competition for land, Protected Areas (PAs) are coming under increasing pressure to justify their status. Positive local attitudes to a PA are a potentially important component of any such justification, especially in the developing world where human pressure on natural resources is often high. However, despite numerous studies our understanding of what drives positive attitudes to PAs is still exceedingly limited. H…
Nature Conservation
Nature conservation is an attempt to protect valued elements of the nonhuman world from deliberate or accidental harm caused by human activities. Because not everyone agrees on what should be conserved, nature conservation can be politically contentious. With origins in the late nineteenth century, it was a defining cultural movement of the twentieth century that gained high‐level policy attention on several occasions and manifested in different …
Examining the Effect of Billboards in Shaping the Great Wolf Debate of the American West
Large carnivore reintroductions have become commonplace in modern conservation. Despite the benefits of such initiatives, conflict with humans can jeopardize their success. Reintroductions of grey wolves (Canis lupus) in the American West are particularly polarizing, and opposing views are often popularized through visual media. We examined public billboards, both for and against wolves, in eastern Washington State. We used social science concept…
Exploring public perceptions of solutions to tree diseases in the UK
Tree diseases are on the increase in many countries and the implications of their appearance can be political, as well as ecological and economic. Preventative policy approaches to tree diseases are difficult to formulate because dispersal pathways for pest and pathogens are numerous, poorly known and likely to be beyond human management control. Genomic techniques could offer the quickest and most predictable approach to developing a disease tol…
Developing publicly acceptable tree health policy
The UK needs to develop effective policy responses to the spread of tree pathogens and pests. This has been given the political urgency following the media and other commentary associated with the arrival of a disease that causes 'dieback' of European Ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ) - a tree species with deep cultural associations. In 2014 the UK government published a plant biosecurity strategy and linked to this invested in research to inform policy…
A culturomics approach to quantifying the salience of species on the global internet
Conservation will only be successful over the long term if people support conservation goals. While many factors may influence the level of such support, it is clear that people are more willing to conserve species and places that they are familiar with and which provide them with something they value. Until now this dimension has been largely lacking from conservation decision‐making and its underlying scientific evidence base. This is understan…
Recoverable Earth
Rewilding may signify the emergence of a new environmental narrative. Discussion of underlying policy narratives is important because they shape understandings of the state of world and how society should act. I summarise the origins of twentieth century environmental narratives and argue that their influence derives from components telling of the dire state of nature, the catastrophic consequences of this and the need for competent authorities t…
Monitoring and mapping non-governmental conservation action in Amazonia
Revealing the hidden value of protected areas
To capitalise on the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, we need institutional redesign to empower advances in restoration ecology and rewilding
The UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration signifies the ambition to move beyond a defensive focus on biodiversity protection towards a proactive agenda of restoring ecosystems to generate value for people and nature. The international nature regime, based on the linked concepts of biodiversity and sustainable development, has achieved much. However, its institutions are built on a ‘compositional’ approach to ecology that ‘locks in’ arbitrary ecologi…
Political science (17 works) · Ecology (12 works) · Sociology (12 works) · Geography (11 works) · Computer Science (10 works) · Law (10 works) · Biology (9 works) · Business (9 works) · Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management (8 works) · Environmental resource management (8 works)