£1 million donation for project to examine the price of birdsong

Economics and conservation are often seen as unrelated, but a new project at the University of Exeter seeks to place an economic value
on biodiversity so it can become part of individual, corporate and governmental decision making.

Exeter and investment group Dragon Capital have together committed £1.6 million over the next five years, to fund a newly appointed ‘Dragon Capital Chair in Biodiversity Economics’. Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Dragon Capital, Dominic Scriven OBE (Sociology and Law, 1985) said: “How can markets price the absence of birdsong? How much are people willing to pay to maintain the existence of, or be compensated for the loss of, biodiversity in all its forms? It has never been more important for businesses and individuals to understand the impact they are having on society to ensure the conservation of our planet.

“I’ve been interested in conservation for as long as I can remember and I’ve been lucky enough to be able to explore many different areas including protection of habitat, illegal wildlife trade, rewilding, and conserving endangered species.

“I regard sustainable development as a fundamental aspect of business management, and it is core to our values at Dragon Capital. I feel privileged to be able to make a difference through supporting research and look forward to working with the University on this important project.”