The Albatross Lecture January 2025

On the 23rd of January 2025, Sustainable Futures hosted the second annual Albatross Lecture, featuring a keynote presentation by Dr Jared Margulies, Assistant Professor at The University of Alabama and author of The Cactus Hunters: Desire and Extinction in the Illicit Succulent Trade.

Held at Alliance Manchester Business School, the event welcomed internal and external attendees from The University of Manchester and beyond. This year’s lecture delved into the topic "Lessons on Conservation Justice in the Illegal Wildlife Trade," presenting an innovative perspective on the interplay between conservation and social justice.

Dr Margulies’ talk critiqued the prevailing reliance on criminalisation as a solution to illegal wildlife trafficking and proposed a justice-centred approach to conservation. Drawing on his research into the global illegal trade of ornamental plants—including endangered succulents in South Africa and Venus flytraps in North Carolina—he explained the unintended social harms caused by punitive policies. The talk challenged attendees to consider more sustainable and equitable solutions to the ecological and social issues intertwined with the illegal wildlife trade.

The event began with a warm welcome and introductions by Dr Helen Holmes, Deputy Director of Sustainable Futures. Dr Jared Margulies then captivated the audience with his engaging and thought-provoking lecture, highlighting the necessity of linking ecological preservation with social equity.

Following the talk, delegates enjoyed a networking lunch, where discussions continued informally over food and drink.

The afternoon session featured a panel discussion, chaired by Dr Helen Holmes, and included:

• Dr Jared Margulies, Assistant Professor, University of Alabama
• Dr Helen Holmes, Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Deputy Director of Sustainable Futures, The University of Manchester
• Dr Oliver Hughes, Technical Manager, Firs Environmental Research
• Dr Charis Enns, Presidential Fellow in Socio-Environmental Systems at the Global Development Institute, The University of Manchester.
• Dr Gregory Bulmer, Former chairman of the British Cactus and Succulent Society, a UK-based charity supporting the conservation, propagation, education and research of cacti and other succulents. Standing on a platform of modernising the charity's perception and practices to appeal to a modern audience, he was elected in 2022 and served for 2 years. Coming to the panel from a hobbyist perspective (although has professionally worked on research grants related to other conservation areas), Greg is an ardent supporter of succulent habitat conservation and the need to encourage propagation of endangered plant species.

The panel provided valuable insights into diverse conservation and sustainability issues, with a spirited Q&A session that encouraged audience participation.