Jill Gettrup
(she/her)

BSc (Hons), MRes, PGCE

Research student

My academic interest lies in understanding the relationship between society and nature and specifically the role of strategic planning and development control in tackling the biodiversity crisis. My PhD thesis, ‘’Biodiversity and planning: an investigation of nature positive planning in Wales", seeks to further scholarship on the role of the land use planning system in Wales and mechanisms to enhance biodiversity. It explores the environmental and cultural discourse in Wales through the prism of planning policy in a devolved nation of the UK as it refocuses its economy on light industry, tourism and financial services. As nature positive planning policies rollout across the UK they are taking varied forms with scholarship in its infancy and non-existent in Wales. Through my studentship I aim to advance academic understanding of the potential for the Welsh approach to help deliver equitable and long-lasting benefits for both biodiversity and future generations.

Thesis

Biodiversity and Planning: An investigation of nature positive planning in Wales

The purpose of my thesis is to consider the degree to which nature positive approaches to planning will help tackle the biodiversity crisis, contribute to international commitments for biodiversity and national goals for the wellbeing of future generations in Wales.

Nature positive approaches to planning require developers to leave sites in a more biodiverse state than they were found to be, or to make their best efforts to improve biodiversity elsewhere in place of what is lost. These policies are only recently being implemented, the full implications of the methods for calculating, improving and trading biodiversity value on people, ecosystems and biodiversity are not yet well understood. Despite little empirical data to support the benefit of using such methods, Wales may soon be the only country in the United Kingdom not to adopt a prescribed metric for calculating the value of biodiversity via its ‘net benefit for biodiversity’ policy approach. My project focuses on the approach being pioneered in Wales, drawing on early learning about alternative methods including England’s Biodiversity Net Gain and considering the degree to which the Welsh approach will be equitable and long-lasting, and its potential to transform Welsh society’s relationship with nature.

Funding sources

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

I have had a varied career in environmental policy campaigning, teaching, writing and governance. I have also held voluntary roles of responsibility as Trustee and Chair of several not for profit organisations including a small housing association in South East London, my local community centre and the local branch of a national environmental charity. I am currently the Chair of Governors of a local nursery school federation and lead conservation work parties at my local nature reserve. I've had some more creative dalliances as a practicing artist, performer and running a small catering business during times when personal circumstances prevented me from working regular hours. I have a level 2 certificate in councelling skills.

Academic record:

PGCE in Secondary Geography, University of London Institute of Education (2005)

MRes Environment and Development (oversears placement), Lancaster University (2002)

BSc (Hons) Environmental Studies: Conservation and Recreation Management, University of Hertfordshire (1999)