Our mission will inevitably lead us to work with challenging, invariably multi-faceted and generally controversial issues. WildCRU’s commitment to biodiversity conservation is scientific, evidence-based and impartial and as a research group in the Department of Biology we maintain the standards of research integrity and practice expected by the University of Oxford. In addition, our members follow WildCRU’s principles below, which are especially relevant to our mission.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT & IMPARTIALITY
WildCRU welcomes support from any University-approved donor who wishes to fund our work. This means our supporters span a wide variety of sources including philanthropists, private foundations, research councils and charities. While our donors inevitably have varied, and sometimes directly contrasting, views regarding different aspects of biodiversity conservation, our core principle is that our research is never influenced by our donors and our scientific findings will always provide robust and impartial evidence.
CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS
WildCRU’s ethos is founded upon a dedication to evidence-based conservation, and we often tackle challenging topics such as wildlife use and trade, lethal control of animals, or conservation law enforcement. We are proud to have a wide diversity of group members, each of whom have their own experiences and views. We respect all these views and we value being able to have constructive, robust debate within and beyond the group. Our overarching commitment is to ensure that WildCRU’s work represents rigorous, unbiased science on any topic, no matter how controversial that topic or our outputs might be.
DIVERSITY OF VIEWS & VOICES
WildCRU embraces the diversity of views held and expressed in different styles and on different platforms by its members. WildCRU will rarely, if ever, have one collective view on any topic – instead, we encourage our researchers to share their personal experience, opinions and perspectives. Our only expectations are that views are solidly underpinned by evidence, and that all debate is conducted in a constructive, professional, and respectful manner.
WILD ANIMAL WELFARE
WildCRU has a long history of examining the intersection between wild animal welfare and conservation, across a wide variety of topics including trade and tourism. We meticulously adhere to all University principles and processes to ensure that our research, including handling, collaring and any other contact with wildlife, minimises any negative impacts on wild animal welfare.
CONSIDERATE CONSERVATION
We acknowledge that our work impacts both people and wildlife in the places where we work. We always consider how our approaches, technology and presence might affect local people, and we strive to minimise any negative impacts. We place great importance on how we present our work, always striving for respectful engagement with everyone we encounter, including people who live alongside wildlife and making sure we honour local knowledge and insights. We aim to leave a positive impression of wildlife conservation in general, so aim to be as considerate as possible in all that we do.
COLLABORATION AND INCLUSIVITY
None of our work happens in isolation: we rely on a broad array of collaborators, partners and stakeholders. We are aware of the risks of parachute science, and take active steps to overcome those risks by working in close conversation with people who live in the places where we work. We recognise that effective and socially just conservation requires diverse perspectives, and we seek to build equitable, sustainable, and inclusive teams within and beyond Oxford. We are committed to acknowledging and recognising partners’ contributions in our publications and other material to show our respect and appreciation, and we look for opportunities to help partners benefit from our collaborations.
SUSTAINABILITY
We aim to consider all aspects of environmental sustainability that are relevant to our research and training. In Oxford we have tried to reduce our environmental footprint by minimising resource use where possible and preferring recycled and fairtrade supplies. We are committed to understanding the carbon footprint of our work and strive to find ways to reduce its impact. We host online interviews and inclusive hybrid meetings to minimise our travel footprint. We follow Oxford’s travel hierarchy, taking public and shared transport where possible, using trains rather than flying for short haul travel, and choosing flight itineraries that are as efficient as possible when international travel is critical for our work.