Iris Berger

I am interested in interdisciplinary research topics that may help us reconcile biodiversity conservation and human needs. Specifically, my research interests lie in identifying how landscapes can be optimally managed for the benefit of both biodiversity and livelihoods, quantifying the changing state of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and assessing the effectiveness of different conservation interventions.

I hold a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences (Ecology) from the University of Edinburgh and an MSc from the University of Oxford in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management. I am a National Geographic Explorer and I have recently complimented my vast experience in conducting field assessments in the tropics with cutting-edge modelling and system analyses.

Research

Research:

My PhD research investigates the consequences of different food system trajectories for biodiversity and evaluates potential conservation strategies in India.

At the national level, I am using spatially explicit projections of future food demand to assess where the impacts of agricultural extensification and intensification are likely to be most severe and which policies may ameliorate these threats.

At the regional and local level, I am using optimization with a set food production target to identify the agricultural strategies that deliver best on biodiversity objectives; specifically asking whether better support for ecosystem service provisioning can increase yields sustainably and thus not only promote high on-farm biodiversity but also allow for the conservation of native ecosystems elsewhere.

PhD Student, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University