DICE Innovation Team

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Skills and Services

Our services

We offer tailored services built on our expertise in biodiversity and conservation planning. Delivered through data analysis, research, reporting, consultancy, and training, some of our key expertise areas are listed below. Please contact us to explore how this can fit with your organisation’s aims or to discuss any other biodiversity-related work.

Spatial conservation planning

We design conservation plans using systematic conservation planning (SCP). Our tailored approach integrates environmental, social and economic factors to deliver spatially-explicit management solutions across complex landscapes. From supporting delivery of national conservation targets, to minimising biodiversity impacts in business operations, we create actionable strategies aligned with project priorities.

Habitat connectivity and remote sensing

Our strong data analysis and modelling skills can be applied to a range of ecological research and practice. Existing examples include assessing habitat connectivity to understand species movements across landscapes and using satellite imagery to remotely classify habitats and their condition.

Nature-based solutions 

We deliver nature-based solutions (NbS) that enhance ecosystem services and achieve biodiversity goals, including no net loss and net gain. By integrating biodiversity metrics with stakeholder priorities, our work includes both research and management strategies for restoring and protecting ecosystems that provide essential services such as carbon sequestration, flood regulation, and pollination.

Community-based conservation

Effective conservation depends on working with people. Our team has specialisms in diverse conservation social science topics and methods. This ranges from working with communities to inform human-wildlife conflict interventions in south-east Asia, to running large participatory workshops on the links between biodiversity, health and wellbeing in the UK.

Case Studies

Habitat management in the University of Kent

We are delivering training and habitat mapping to support biodiversity management on the University of Kent campus.

Expanding habitat protection in Guyana

We worked with governmental and NGO stakeholders to develop a protected area expansion plan in Guyana.

BBOWT Nature Recovery Network

We worked with the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust to identify a strategic regional plan using systematic conservation planning.

Nature Investment Zones

We are supporting the identification of Nature Investment Zones as part of an ambitious initiative to create a UK Strategic Nature Network

Publications

The work we do is rooted in our team’s strong research and scientific backgrounds. Here are some relevant scientific papers from our Innovation and E3 Teams, with more available on our research profiles.

Spatial conservation planning
  • Plumptre, A., Hayes, J., Baisero, D., Rose, R., Holness, S., von Staden, L., & Smith, R. J. (2024). Strengths and complementarity of systematic conservation planning and Key Biodiversity area approaches for spatial planning
  • Kor, L.., and Diazgranados, M. (2023) Identifying Important Plant Areas for useful plants in Colombia
  • Smith, R. J., Cartwright, S. J., Fairbairn, A. C., Lewis, D. C., Gibbon, G. E. M., Stewart, C. L., Sykes, R. E., & Addison, P. F. E. (2022). Developing a nature recovery network using systematic conservation planning
  • Smith, R. J. (2019) The CLUZ plugin for QGIS: designing conservation area systems and other ecological networks. Research Ideas and Outcomes
Habitat connectivity and remote sensing
  • Struebig, M.J., Wenzler, M., Runting, R.K., Law, E., Budiharta, S., Seaman, D. and Kramer-Schadt, S. (2024) Connectivity conservation to mitigate climate and land-cover change impacts on Borneo
  • Kor, L., O’Hickey, B., Hanson, M. and Coroi, M., (2022) Assessing habitat connectivity in environmental impact assessment: a case-study in the UK context
  • Seaman, D.J.I., Voigt, M., Bocedi, G. et al. (2021) Orangutan movement and population dynamics across human-modified landscapes: implications of policy and management
  • Pfeifer M, Kor L, Nilus R, … & Ewers R. (2016) Mapping the structure of Borneo’s tropical forests across a degradation gradient
Nature-based solutions 
  • Rampling, E. E., zu Ermgassen, S. O. S. E., Hawkins, I., & Bull, J. W. (2024) Achieving biodiversity net gain by addressing governance gaps underpinning ecological compensation policies
  • Fisher, J. C., Dallimer, M., Irvine, K. N., Aizlewood, S. G., Austen, G. E., … and Davies, Z. G. (2023). Human well-being responses to species’ traits
  • Kor, L., Homewood, K., Dawson, T.P. and Diazgranados, M. (2021) Sustainability of wild plant use in the Andean Community of South America
  • Holland J, Douma J, Crowley L, James L, Kor L, Stevenson D, Smith B (2017) Semi-natural habitats support biological control, pollination and soil conservation in Europe
Community-based conservation
  • Kor, L., Fernández-Lucero, M., Granados Flórez, D.A., Dawson, T.P. and Diazgranados, M. (2024). Bridging local and scientific knowledge for area-based conservation of useful plants in Colombia
  • Morgans, C. L., Jago, S., Andayani, N., Linkie, M., Lo, M. G., Mumbunan, S., … and Struebig, M. J. (2024). Improving well‐being and reducing deforestation in Indonesia’s protected areas
  • Lo, M.G., Morgans, C.L., Santika, T., … Davies, Z.G. and Struebig, M.J., (2024). Nickel mining reduced forest cover in Indonesia but had mixed outcomes for well-being