MCIEEM
Honorary Research Fellow
- 51cg
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- Email Address
- emma.cary@abdn.ac.uk
- School/Department
- School of Geosciences
Biography
Social scientist with research interests in biodiversity conservation, environmental policy and interdisciplinary collaborations to improve conservation outcomes.
I have a PhD in environmental decision-making from the Department of Geography & Environment, 51cg. I was previously a Nuffield Parliamentary Fellow, bridging scientific research and policymaking.
Qualifications
- PhD Geography2025 - 51cg
Decision-making in rewilding, restoration and nature recovery
External Memberships
Latest Publications
Making the Transition Work: The Hidden Labour of Nature-Recovery Farming
Environmental Management: Economics and PolicyContributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI:
Evidence for nature recovery
Contributions to Specialist Publications: Reports- [ONLINE] DOI:
Digital nature in the AI era: how human and AI-generated representations shape future visions of rewilding
People and Nature, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 919-934Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI:
- [OPEN ACCESS]
Guerrilla rewilding: urgent protest or dangerous gamble? Who is releasing lynx and beavers into the countryside? And what impact is it having on ecosystems?
Biologist, vol. 73Contributions to Specialist Publications: Articles- [ONLINE]
Integrating people and place into policy: recognising cultural values of nature and lived places for Biodiversity Net Gain
Commissioned by The British Academy. The British Academy. 31 pagesBooks and Reports: Commissioned Reports- [ONLINE] DOI:
- [OPEN ACCESS]
Prizes and Awards
Winner of the SAGES Graduate School '' under the Transformations in Society and Environmental Policy Theme
- Research
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Research Overview
My research concentrates on using social science to improve biodiversity and conservation outcomes. I am interested in diverse interactions between people and nature, including decisions around how land is used and managed.
My research interests include:
- investigating how knowledge is produced and used in environmental decision-making processes
- understanding local conditions in restoration, rewilding and nature recovery initiatives
- exploring the socio-cultural aspects of human-wildlife coexistence, including the diverse ways in which people understand, interact with and value nature.
I also have an interest in science-policy-society interactions.
Research Areas
Geography and Environment
Research Specialisms
- Social Sciences
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Environmental Geography
- Environmental Management
- Applied Social Science
Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is , published under the licence.
Current Research
2024 - 2026 Nature Recovery Farming: Supporting the Transition
This project is led by , working with farmers and other land managers in South Yorkshire and the Peak District to understand their experiences of accessing funding for land management that supports nature’s recovery.
Past Research
2022 - 2025 Understanding stakeholder decision-making for ecological restoration, rewilding and nature recovery initiatives
This project investigated environmental decision-making processes in ecological restoration, rewilding and nature recovery projects. Funded by via QUADRAT DTP.
Knowledge Exchange
I was previously a Nuffield Parliamentary Fellow in the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, bridging scientific research and policymaking.
Outputs from my fellowship are available .
Funding and Grants
2025 - British Academy, 'Place-sensitive understandings of nature recovery in the UK', contributing to the Academy's public policy theme on
2024 - Nuffield Foundation POST Fellowship,
2023 - SAGES Small Grant
2022 - NERC QUADRAT studentship, 51cg
2022 - NERC PANORAMA studentship, University of Leeds (declined)
- Publications
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Page 2 of 2 Results 11 to 15 of 15
Children's wellbeing in schools
UK ParliamentBooks and Reports: Commissioned Reports- [ONLINE] DOI:
- [OPEN ACCESS]
- [ONLINE]
Emotions shape attitudes towards wolf conservation management in the Italian Alps
European Journal of Wildlife Research, vol. 71, 7Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI:
- [OPEN ACCESS]
Rewilding in the British policy landscape: A qualitative analysis of policy documents related to rewilding
Scottish Geographical Journal, vol. 141, no. 1-2, pp. 113-138Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI:
- [OPEN ACCESS]
- [ONLINE]
Rewilding concepts, policy and practice: investigating knowledge integration and decision-making in British rewilding initiatives
Wild Scotland: Interdisciplinary perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of rewildingContributions to Conferences: AbstractsExploring knowledge production and integration in UK rewilding initiatives
The XXIXth European Society for Rural Sociology Congress, pp. 483Contributions to Conferences: Abstracts- [ONLINE]