Dr Colm Bowe
School of Biological and Environmental Sciences
Faculty of Science
Email: C.Bowe@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 231 2133
Colm is Head of Liverpool Research Insitute Climate and Sustainability (liRICS), Reader in Engagement for Environment and Sustainability. He is the (founding) lead of the LJMU Natural Capital Hub and is Development Manager at Nature North (through secondment).
Through LiRICS he works to build multidisaplinary cross departmental reserach activities across the University
Colm’s research largely focuses on embedding the natural capital approach in decision making and planning. Much of his research looks to engage with key stakeholders outside academia such as business, policy makers and conservation practitioners.
Through a secondment as Development Manager he currently leads Nature North (see www.naturenoth.org.uk). This is an innovative pan regional and cross sector collaboration looking to drive green economic growth and climate resilience through nature recovery in the North of England.
He established and leads the LJMU Natural Capital Hub, a centre for research and knowledge exchange working on various aspects of natural capital, including mapping, natural capital finance and embeddings it use in decision making and policy. This work has led to the development of the mapping approach EcoservR (https://ecoservr.github.io/EcoservR/). Through the Hub he works with a number of partners to apply the approach including LEPs and Combined Authorities, Conservation NGO's, Community Forests and Government Departments and Agencies across England and Scotland. This includes the evaluation of major national level programmes such as Nature for Climate. The hub is seeking to improve natural capital literacy, skills and understanding across all stages of the green-skills pipeline from school children, university students and graduates to those already in work across various sectors. Colm has also worked with business to quantify natural capital externalities within supply chains and understand the role of the private sector and natural capital in post Brexit agricultural policy.
He is a member of a number of committees at national and regional level.
Earlier research focused on sustainable agriculture through the domestication and commercialisation of underutilised tree species in the tropics and elsewhere. This work included carrying out spatial analysis to identify the effects climate change on the distribution of such species.
Colm joined the School of Biological and Environmental Science at LJMU in 2010 as a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science. He has held a number of teaching leadership roles in the School such as Programme Leader in BSc Wildlife Conservation (2014 - 2020) and Link Tutor for LJMU accredited degree courses at the Centre for Alternative Technology, Wales (2017 - 2020).
Degrees
2007, University of Southampton, United Kingdom, PhD
2001, Durham University, United Kingdom, BSc Environmental Management
Academic appointments
Director Liverpool Institute for Climate and Sustainability (LiRICS), Liverpool John Moores University, 2025 - present
Reader in Engagement for Environment and Sustainability, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, 2022 - present
Programme Manager BSc Wildlife Conservation, Natural Science and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, 2014 - 2020
Senior Lecturer, Natural Science and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, 2010 - 2022
Research Fellow, Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, 2006 - 2010
Journal article
Cont S, Rowley A, Knowles Z, Bowe C. 2023. The perceptions of trainee teachers towards Forest School, does connection to nature matter? Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Dowdall L, Bowe C, Kirby JR. 2022. The Natural Capital approach: A framework for the successful recovery of nature in estuaries Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 3 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Tinch R, Beamont N, Sunderland T, Ozdemiroglu E, Barton D, Bowe C, Börger T, Burgess P, Cooper CN, Faccioli M, Failler P, Gkolemi I, Kumar R, Longo A, McVittie A, Morris J, Park J, Ravenscroft N, Schaafsma M, Vause J, Ziv G. 2019. Economic valuation of ecosystem goods and services: a review for decision makers Journal of Environmental Economics and Policy, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Green JHH, Cranston GR, Sutherland WJ, Tranter H.R. , Bell SJ, Benton TG, Blixt E, Bowe C, et. al. . 2016. Research priorities for managing the impacts and dependencies of business upon food, energy, water and the environment Sustainability Science, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Bowe C, der Horst DV. 2015. Positive externalities, knowledge exchange and corporate farm extension services; a case study on creating shared value in a water scarce area Ecosystem Services, 15 :1-10 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Bourou S, Bowe C, Diouf M, Van Damme P. 2012. Ecological and human impacts on stand density and distribution of tamarind (
Bowe C, Haq N. 2010. Quantifying the global environmental niche of an underutilised tropical fruit tree (Tamarindus indica) using herbarium records Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 139 :51-58 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
TRABUCCO A, ACHTEN WMJ, BOWE C, AERTS RAF, ORSHOVEN JV, NORGROVE L, MUYS B. 2010. Global mapping of Jatropha curcas yield based on response of fitness to present and future climate GCB Bioenergy, 2 :139-151 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Report
Rouquette J, Fenn T, Anger-Blondin S, Ashby M, Zini V, Busdieker K, Bowe C. 2021. Cheshire and Warrington Natural Capital Audit and Investment Plan Author Url
Busdieker K, Angers-Blondin S, Rouquette J, Holt A, Bowe C. 2020. Quantifying environmental (natural capital) net gain and loss - Urban development demonstration: Liverpool City Region Author Url
Holt A, Bowe C, Rouquette J, Angers-Blondin S, Busdieker K. 2020. Baseline natural capital assessment for the Liverpool City Region Publisher Url
Angers-Blondin S, Pimblett J, Bellamy C, Rouquette J, Holt A, Varley M, Bowe C. 2020. EcoservR: a natural capital mapping tool for measuring public goods. ELM Test and Trial 074 Author Url
Bowe C, Cranston G, Walsh L. 2017. The inescapable truth: Brexit, business and natural capital. University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Bowe C, van der Horst D, Meghwanshi C. 2013. Assessing the Externalities of SABMillers’s barley extension program
Bowe C, van der Horst D, Cranston G, Le Vernoy A. 2013. Natural Capital Leadership Summary of SABMiller Case Study: The (Sustainable) Business Case for Natural Capital Valuation
Pearson A, Bowe C. Review and development of evidence base of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in the Cheshire to Lancashire area Review and development of evidence base of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in the Cheshire to Lancashire area
Chapters
Bowe C, Scott A, Smith A, Chamberlain B, Clavey L. 2021. Chapter 9: Embedding nature-based solutions in strategic spatial planning Stafford R, Chamberlain B, Clavey L, Gillingham P, McKain S, Morecroft M, Morrison-Bell C, Watts O. Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change in the UK: A Report by the British Ecological Society. :135-150 Author Url
Haq N, Bowe C, Dunisger Z. 2007. Challenges to stimulating the adoption and impact of indigenous fruit trees in tropical agriculture Akinnifesi FK, Leakey RRB, Ajayi O, Sileshi G, Matakala P, Kwesiga F. Indigenous fruit trees in the tropics CABI 9781845931100 DOI Publisher Url
Bowe C. 2006. Chapter 2 Composition Williams JT, Smith RW, Haq N, Dunsinger Z. Fruits for the Future 2 - Ber and other jujubes :18-28 ICUC. Southampton 9780854328581
Conference publication
Bowe C, Van der Horst D. 2016. Business Valuation of Natural Capital; learning by doing Rethinking capital publication, Series 2 Natural Capital, ICAEW Rethinking Capitals Publisher Url Public Url
Haq N, Bowe C, Dunsiger ZE. 2008. A case for promotion of tropical underutilised fruits for improvement of livelihoods Smart J, Haq N. New Crops and Uses: Their role in a rapidly changing world :288-299
Bowe C. 2007. Potential answers to the adaptation to and mitigation of climate change through the adoption of underutilised crops Tropical Agricultue Association Newsletter, South West Seminar on Underutilised Crops 27
Research Grants Awarded:
Grant value (£): 29,495, Woodland Trust, Northern Forest Evaluation - first 5 years of planting. 2024
Duration of research project: 1.5 years, Grant value (£): 218,055, DEFRA, Nature for Climate Woodland Creation Evaluation. 2023
Grant value (£): 4500, St Helens Council, Opportunity Mapping to Support BNG. 2023
Duration of research project: 2 years, Grant value (£): 84,497, Environment Agency, Natural Capital Opportunity Mapping for North West and Eastern Hub. 2023
Grant value (£): 9215, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Natural Capital Digital Guide - Supporting doc for LCR Spatial Development Strategy. 2023
Grant value (£): 54,310, NatureScot, Developing a Landscape Scale Natural Capital Tool for Scotland. 2022
Duration of research project: 1 year, Grant value (£): 99,000, DEFRA/Environment Agency, LCR Combined Authority/Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service, NEIRF - Investing in Nature in the Liverpool City Region. 2022
Duration of research project: 3, Grant value (£): 174,964, Mersey Forest/Community Forest Trust/Trees for Climate, Sylva, Spatial evaluation of woodland planting across England's Community Forests. 2022
Duration of research project: 1.5 years, Grant value (£): 1,326,700, DEFRA/National Lottery Heritage Fund, Mersey Forest, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group, Plant a Tree Today Foundation, Community Forest Trust - More from Trees: a green recovery through the Mersey Forest. 2021
Grant value (£): 90,000, DEFRA - Natural Environment Investment Fund, Mersey Forest, Doubling Nature. 2021
Duration of research project: 4 years 5 months, Grant value (£): 262,589, NLHF/EFF/Nature North, Nature North Secondment. 2020
Duration of research project: 9 months, Grant value (£): 50,000, DEFRA, ELMS Test and Trial: A Natural Capital Mapping Tool for Measuring Public Goods - T&T 074 Upper Dane Catchment. 2019
Grant value (£): 99,140, Mersey Forest/CFT's, Spatial Mapping + Modelling Natural Capital Evaluation of CFT planting for Tree for Climate. 2019
Duration of research project: 3 Years, Grant value (£): 30,531, MGET, Exploring a natural capital approach in the Upper Mersey Estuary for improved decision making and investment in the environment.. 2019
Duration of research project: 10 months, Grant value (£): 45,335, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Exploring Local Implementation of DEFRA’s 25 Year Plan: Learning lessons from embedding the Natural Capital Approach in a Northern Coastal City Region. 2018
Duration of research project: 3 months, Grant value (£): 22,599, Valuing Nature Network (VNN) Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), University of Cambridge, Developing understanding and strategies for business to engage and inform UK Food and Farming policy to ensure that Natural Capital is an integral part.. 2016
Grant value (£): 10000, Natural England, Evidence Review – Natura 2000 Sites in North West. 2015
Duration of research project: 6 months, Grant value (£): 6000, Valuing Nature Programme (VNP) Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Valuing externalities in a business context. 2012
Award:
Edie Awards, Edie Awards Celebrating sustainability leadership, Nature and Biodiversity Project of the Year Finalist 2024., https://event.edie.net/awards/2024_winners_and_shortlist. 2024
Liverpool John Moores University, University Winner (overall) Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence in the promotion of sustainability in Research and Knowledge Exchange. 2022
Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Excellence - Shortlisted - Excellence in Planning for the Natural Environment category, https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/news/articles/2021/3/2/initiative-to-put-nature-in-planning-policy-recognised. 2021
Echo Environment Awards, Finalist - Outstanding Project or Action for the Year of the Environment 2020., https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/meet-2020-echo-environment-awards-18904431. 2020
Liverpool John Moores University, Celebrating Success Impact Award. 2016
External committees:
Nature Connected, Chair, Liverpool City Region Natural Capital Working Group. 2019
Liverpool City Region Year of the Environment, Member, Steering Group, http://www.natureconnected.org/yoe2019/. 2018
Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust, Member, Biodiversity and Environment Research Board, http://www.merseygateway.co.uk/mersey-gateway-environmental-trust/. 2018
Nature Connect, Member/Management team member, Liverpool City Region Local Nature Partnership, http://www.natureconnected.org/. 2017
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Member, Liverpool City Region Climate Partnership Board.