Dr Charles Masquelier

I am an environmental sociologist working on issues of environmental justice and social empowerment. I am particularly interested in exploring the role sociology can play in tackling the biodiversity crisis. Much of my latest work focuses on how land managers can be empowered to restore nature. 

The work I undertake is informed by a range of critical theories, such those developed in the fields of intersectionality studies and decolonial thought. I also draw extensively on the 'knowledge cultures' scholarship and the work of Pierre Bourdieu for exploring land managers' empowerment in nature recovery. 

As social science lead for theme 3 of the RENEW project, I have sought to understand pathways to nature recovery among land managers across the UK. This work is currently being finalised, using Qualitative Comparative Analysis tools.

Work with Peak District upland land managers has involved deliberative methods deployed for understanding the key challenges faced by these stakeholders in engaging with nature recovery. This was complemented by a deliberative design of solutions to those challenges. A brief report of this work's findings can be found here.

I am currently working with Peak District farmers on the FiPL-funded project aimed at devising a farmer-centred approach to nature recovery.