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Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity
HomeLeverhulme Centre for Anthropocene BiodiversityResearch programmesPhilias and phobias

Philias and phobias

Whether different aspects of Anthropocene change are considered good or bad depends as much on cultural values and flexibility as on any physical and biological realities.

What are the circumstances under which humans fear, repel or embrace the changing biological world?

This programme evaluates why some individuals, organisations and societies apparently value biodiversity gains, but others respond with disdain. What psychological, historical and cultural processes lead to this spectrum of attitudes and responses to novelty, and how do negative or positive attitudes then affect the prospects for biodiversity?

Areas of interest

  • Attitudes to novelty, examining the circumstances under which novel species and genetic forms are regarded as objects of desire or shunned.
  • Idealised ecosystems, investigating how and why perceptions of landscape and ecosystem beauty vary from landscape taming and improvement, through to restoration and rewilding.
  • Attitudes into action, in which we analyse how human attitudes and ideals translate into cultural practices and policies, and whether these practices then give rise to increases or declines in biodiversity.

News and views

Historic and contemporary issues around the ivory trade.

Molly Brown draws on sources from across the UK, Africa and Asia to highlight the role that demand has played in forming our values towards ivory and elephants.

A walk on the (re)wild side

Postdoctoral researcher, Hanna Pettersson, looks back on her first year with the Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity and discusses the contemporary topic of Rewilding.

To deliver successful conservation, let’s consider why past efforts haven’t worked.

Postdoctoral Research Associate Jamie Carr describes why he feels greater attention should be given to the non-environmental enabling conditions that can facilitate better conservation outcomes.