Prof Andrew Balmford FRS

  • Professor of Conservation Science
Available to supervise doctoral students
Prof Andrew Balmford FRS

Contact

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Location

  • David Attenborough Building
  • Room 3.03

About

After studying for 10 years in Cambridge I was a research fellow at the Institute of Zoology in London and then a lecturer at the University of Sheffield. In 1998 I returned to the Zoology Department, where I teach conservation science, and help run the Conservation Science Group with Prof Rob Fletcher and Prof Bill Sutherland.

Research

My research focuses on how to reconcile biodiversity conservation with meeting human food needs and other land-demanding activities; the costs and benefits of retaining intact ecosystems; and identifying what works in conservation. 

I collaborate closely with conservation practitioners and with colleagues in other disciplines, including economics and psychology. In my book Wild Hope I argue that cautious, evidence-based optimism is vital in tackling environmental challenges. 

I helped establish the Student Conference on Conservation Science, the Cambridge Conservation Forum, the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, Earth Optimism and the Cambridge Centre for Carbon Credits. I currently co-chair a Royal Society programme on delivering sustainable, land-efficient farming for people and the planet.

Student Conference on Conservation Science

Cambridge Centre for Carbon Credits

Mandala Consortium

University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute

 

Recent Media

Royal Society Environment Prize Lecture

Professor Balmford gave a lecture on 'Feeding the world without costing the earth' following the award of the Royal Society's first Environment Medal.  The award recognised his groundbreaking contributions to conservation science, having built transformative partnerships and redefined the landscape of conservation education.

Environment Prize Lecture

 

Farming Today interview

Professor Balmford was interviewed for BBC Farming Today on his 2050 vision for the UK countryside.  The interview is available here: 

Farming Today interview

 

Wild Hope TV Series 

A series of TV programmes, aimed at inspiring audiences with positive stories about protecting our planet from biodiversity loss and climate change, is available to view on the PBS YouTube channel.  

The series was inspired by the work of Professor Andrew Balmford and his book Wild Hope. 

Each half-hour episode looks at bold interventions, unexpected alliances, and nature’s resilience revealing how local action can spark powerful change and provide a refreshing dose of hope in an increasingly cynical world.

The series was made by HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and can be viewed here:

https://www.wildhope.tv/

YouTube

 

Publications

Selected publications

Time to fix the biodiversity leak. Journal article 13 February 2025 Science, 387(6735), pp.720-722. Balmford, A., Ball, T.S., Balmford, B., Bateman, I.J., Buchanan, G., Cerullo, G., d’Albertas, F., Eyres, A., Filewod, B., Fisher, B. and Green, J.M., 2025. Concentrating vs spreading our footprint: how to meet humanity’s needs at least cost to nature. Journal article 5 October 2021 J. Zoology 315: 79-109. Balmford, A. The environmental costs and benefits of high-yield farming. Journal article 14 September 2018 Nature Sustainability 1: 477-485. Balmford, A., T. Amano, H. Bartlett, D. Chadwick, A. Collins, D. Edwards, R. Field, P. Garnsworthy, R. Green, P. Smith, H. Waters, A. Whitmore, D.M. Broom, J. Chara, T. Finch, E. Garnett, A. Gathorne-Hardy, J. Hernandez-Medrano, M. Herrero, F. Hua , A. La How can higher-yielding farming help to spare nature? Journal article 29 January 2016 Science 351: 450-451. Phalan, B., R.E. Green, L.V. Dicks, G. Dotta, C. Feniuk, A. Lamb, B.B.N. Strassburg, D.R. Williams, E.K.H.J. zu Ermgassen & A. Balmford. Wild hope: on the frontlines of conservation success. Book University of Chicago Press 2012 Balmford, A. Phalan, B., Onial, M., Balmford, A. & Green. R.E. 2011. Reconciling food production and biodiversity conservation: land sharing and land sparing compared. 26 September 2011 Science 333: 1289–1291. Phalan, B., Onial, M., Balmford, A. & Green. R.E. Boom-and-bust development patterns across the Amazon deforestation frontier. 26 June 2009 Science 324: 1435–1437. Rodrigues, A.S.L., Ewers, R.M., Parry, L., Souza Jr., C., Vérissimo, A. & Balmford, A. Farming and the fate of wild nature. Journal article 28 January 2005 Science 307: 550–555 Green, R.E., Cornell, S., Scharlemann, J.P.W. & Balmford, A. Why conserving wild nature makes economic sense. Journal article 9 August 2002 Science 297: 950–953. Balmford, A., Bruner, A., Cooper, P., Costanza, R., Farber, S., Green, R. E., Jenkins, M., Jefferiss, P., Jessamy, V., Madden, J., Munro, K., Myers, N., Naeem, S., Paavola, J., Rayment, M., Rosendo, S., Roughgarden, J., Trumper K. & Turner, R. K. Conservation conflicts across Africa. Journal article 31 March 2001 Science 291: 2616–2619. Balmford, A., Moore, J.L., Brooks, T., Burgess, N., Hansen, L.A., Williams, P.H. & Rahbek, C.
View full list of publications

Teaching and supervision

Available to supervise doctoral students

I teach on 1A Evolutionary Behaviour, 1B Ecology & Conservation, and the Part II Zoology course on Conservation Science.

Collaborators

  1. Prof Rhys Green

    Prof Rhys Green

    • Emeritus Honorary Professor of Conservation Science
  2. Dr Rosie Trevelyan

    Dr Rosie Trevelyan

    • Visiting Researcher
  3. Dr Richard Bradbury

    Dr Richard Bradbury

    • Honorary Research Fellow
  4. Dr Mark Spalding

    Dr Mark Spalding

    • Honorary Research Fellow
  5. Prof Juliet Vickery

    Prof Juliet Vickery

    • Honorary Research Fellow
  6. Prof Neil Burgess

    Prof Neil Burgess

    • Honorary Research Fellow