The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology coordinates the six-year, £7m Valuing Nature Programme, which aims to better understand and represent the complexities of the natural environment in valuation analyses and decision making. 

Building on the Valuing Nature Network (2011-2014), it further considers the economic, societal and cultural value of nature, linking researchers with businesses, policymakers and practitioners. 

Programme research goals

Projects funded through the Programme address two research goals:

1. Improve our understanding of:

  • the links between ecosystem stocks and tipping points
  • how the values of ecosystem services change as tipping points are reached and exceeded
  • critical levels of natural capital that avoid abrupt and damaging ecosystem change.

2. Improve our understanding of the role biodiversity and ecosystem processes play in human health and well-being, in the areas of:

  • historical, spatial and temporal dynamics of value
  • cultural and social contexts of value
  • optimising value through evidence-informed design of interventions.

The Programme Coordination Team

The Valuing Nature Programme Coordination Team, headed by Rosie Hails, formerly of UKCEH, supports a range of activities to encourage collaboration and knowledge exchange including:

Demystifying Seminars - Bringing together both early career and experienced researchers to investigate the concept of valuing nature

Demystifying Series - A series of reports that provide accessible information and guidance on valuing nature through different lenses

Is there value to valuing nature? - Debate series on the underlying tenets of assigning value to nature

Business interface - Hosting events and resources to help businesses benefit from research

Landscape events - Using a place-based approach to interrogate the value of nature from diverse perspectives

Discipline-crossing placements - Using a place-based approach to interrogate the value of nature from diverse perspectives

Programme Coordination Team members

Former members of the Team included:

  • Dr Anita Weatherby, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology - Programme Coordinator
  • Val Woods, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology - Programme Administration and Communications

Further information

Sign up to the Valuing Nature Network

Information on Programme research objectives

Related links

Principal Investigator

Prof. Rosemary Hails

Rosie was educated at Oxford University, receiving her BA Honours in Zoology. She then moved to Imperial College, where she studied for an MSc in Applied Entomology and then completed her PhD in insect population ecology. In later years she also completed five mathematical and statistical degree modules with the Open University.

  • 2002-present : Data scientist & Ecologist, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Edinburgh
  • 1996-2000 : Project Lead, Sykes Europe Ltd., Edinburgh
  • 1994-1996 : Information Officer, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Edinburgh
  • 1993 : Scientific Officer, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scotland
  • 1991-1992 : Ecologist, Český svaz ochránců přírody (Czech Union for Nature Conservation), Brno. Czechoslovakia.

Project Management Positions:

2018 - Present: Senior Science Project Manager, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

2014 - 2016: Programme Coordinator, Naivasha Landscape, WWF Kenya

2007 - 2010: Executive Officer, Lake Naivasha Growers' Group

I have also conducted a number of short-term consultancies for private sector, civil society and NGOs on various topics.