PhD Candidate - ENVISION DTP Funded. 

I research the environmental trade-offs of mining in Madagascar. The island is world-renowned for its biodiversity and high rates of endemism but it is also incredibly rich in economic minerals. Artisanal and small-scale mining supports the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people whilst industrial mining is an important source of tax revenue and foreign exchange. As such, mining can make a signficiant contribution to economic development and rural livelihoods. But where the mineral and biological wealth coincide, mining may threaten biodiversity. 

I use satellite data and robust methods for impact evaluation to quantify the impact of artisanal gemstone mining on the forests and, by proxy, biodiversity of Madagascar; and to evaluate effectiveness of biodiversity offsetting as a means of mitigating the impact of industrial mining.  

I have also combined geology with conservation science to quantify the potential overlap between gemstones and biodiversity in Madagsacar to evaluate where, and to what extent, artisanal gemstone mining could impact biodiversity in future. This revealed both challenges and opportunities for the co-existence of mining and biodiversity conservation. 

My work explores ways of reconciling mining with biodiversity conservation such that mining can maximise its potential contribution to development whilst minimising the environmental trade-offs. 

My general research interests are in conservation science, impact mitigation, biodiversity offsetting and sustainable land use. 

• MSc: MSc Environmental Management
  Lancaster University, 2018–2019
• BA: Geography
  University of Cambridge, 2012–2015

2023

• E-pub ahead of printEvaluating the impact of biodiversity offsetting on native vegetation
  zu Ermgassen, S. O. S. E., Devenish, K., Simmons, B. A., Gordon, A., Jones, J. P. G., Maron, M., Schulte to Bühne, H., Sharma, R., Sonter, L. J., Strange, N., Ward, M. & Bull, J. W., 10 Jun 2023, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Global Change Biology. 1 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedEvaluating the impact of biodiversity offsetting on native vegetation
  zu Ermgassen, S. O. S. E., Devenish, K., Simmons, B. A., Gordon, A., Jones, J. P. G., Maron, M., Schulte to Bühne, H., Sharma, R., Sonter, L. J., Strange, N., Ward, M. & Bull, J. W., 23 Feb 2023, OSF Preprints, p. 1-24.
  Research output: Working paper › Preprint
• PublishedMapping to explore the challenges and opportunities for reconciling artisanal gem mining and biodiversity conservation
  Devenish, K., Goodenough, K., Jones, J. P. G., Rakoto Ratsimba, H. & Willcock, S., Sept 2023, In: Extractive Industries and Society. 15, 28 p., 101311.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2022

• PublishedEcosystem service flows across the rural-urban spectrum
  Lewis, S., Devenish, K., Dolan, R., Garraty, T. A. ON., Okosun, O. S., Scowen, M., Welivita, I. & Willcock, S., 1 Jul 2022, Exploring the Multiple Values of Nature - Connecting Ecosystems and People across Landscapes. Springer Nature, 8 p.
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
• PublishedOn track to achieve No Net Loss of forest at Madagascar’s biggest mine
  Devenish, K., Desbureaux, S., Willcock, S. & Jones, J. P. G., Jun 2022, In: Nature Sustainability . 5, 6, p. 498-508 11 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review