Lea May Anderson

Co-ownership for nature recovery: a case study in Scotland

Lea (she/they) is a doctoral student whose research focuses on the relationship between nature recovery initiatives in Scotland and efforts to support justice and equity for local communities. This work will explore the processes and outcomes of cooperative approaches to land ownership and management, such as collaboration between grassroots and private environmental organisations. The project will take an interdisciplinary approach that draws on multiple qualitative research traditions and methodologies including ethnography and participatory design.

This research is guided by a dedication to building solidarity across movements pursuing environmental justice and system change. Lea has previously served as an organiser, facilitator, and UN youth delegate with organisations including the UBC Climate Hub, the Youth Climate Ambassadors Project, and the British Columbia Council for International Cooperation. Prior to attending Oxford, Lea completed a Master of Arts in Resources, Environment and Sustainability and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at the University of British Columbia (UBC) on the unceded homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.

Lea is a member of the ECI’s Land, Society and Governance group; the Biodiversity, Ecosystems and Conservation research cluster; and the Technological Life research cluster. Their research is currently funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada and the Clarendon Fund.