Janine Douglas, postgraduate researcher, CDT SuMMeR: Cohort 3

I worked for five years as a scuba-diving instructor, including one year with Tropical Research and Conservation Centre (TRACC) in Malaysia. Whilst at TRACC I was involved in coral conservation, biodiversity monitoring, and a turtle monitoring and hatchery programme. I then undertook a BSc Ocean Science, and an MSc Marine Conservation. I have also worked as a research assistant for University of Plymouth focused on habitat restoration feasibility within Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.

I am interested in the drivers of human activities and behaviour and how those impact on the marine environment; particularly what aspects of nature society deems important and in need of protection. I have developed a specific interest in seagrass meadows and the associated biodiversity as a practical habitat to understand and quantify these factors. My research to date has included marine mammal distribution surveys for my undergraduate; whilst for my masters I analysed the impacts marine plastic pollution has on seagrass ecosystems and assessed the risk of microplastic pollution to seagrass ecosystems at current and potential future concentrations.

Seagrass ecosystems are important coastal habitats that perform many functions beneficial to society and human wellbeing. These benefits are delivered in the form of ecosystem services and include providing food through fisheries, improving water quality through filtration, regulating the climate through carbon sequestration, and as a source of recreation.

Within the UK, there have been significant losses to the scale and extent of these habitats, with some researchers suggesting over 90% declines over the last 100 years. It is, therefore, crucial to restore declining seagrass habitats, and protect existing habitats to ensure continued provision of the associated ecosystem services. To fulfil these requirements significant sustainable finance is required to continue efforts to protect, restore, and create seagrass habitat. The emerging biodiversity credit market has been identified as a potential route for sourcing this finance.

This project aims to develop methodology to enable the biodiversity credit market for the restoration and protection of subtidal seagrass beds. This will include developing metrics and indicators to effectively quantify and compare biodiversity between seagrass beds of different quality and spatial scales. This information will then be used to characterise and classify a biodiversity credit in relation to subtidal seagrass beds. Furthermore, the opportunity for stacking additional nature credits, such as carbon credits and nutrient neutrality credits, will be investigated alongside, which could help ensure sufficient finance can be generated to successfully restore and protect seagrass habitats. This project also aligns with the global push to halt the serious biodiversity losses currently ensuing.

This project appealed to me due to the broad transdisciplinary approach required. The issues facing our natural environment are complex and are not likely to be tackled using any singular approach. It is therefore imperative that we develop multi-pronged approaches to solving these problems. Coming from a predominantly ecological background, I am excited to be working in such a transdisciplinary team.

Furthermore, as well as the specific project aligning strongly with my research interests, the CDT programme overall, offers significant opportunity for training and development over and above a traditional PhD programme.