12 September 2025 Nathan's plan to bring biodiversity back to the city

That’s the question Nathan Campbell is trying to solve. He brought all his research to Lincoln University’s Three Minute Thesis finals, where he sold his idea to the judges and secured third place. He also won Best Master’s Student Presentation.

The Master of Science student is looking at how we can pair biodiversity with a reduction in wildfire risk to make it more attractive to the average household.

“My family has a small bach in Wainui, Banks Peninsula. It’s no more really than a shearer’s cottage from way back when, but it’s completely surrounded by nature.

“That is what I associate with tūrangawaewae, the place where my feet stand. It’s the place I feel most connected to. I remember just having this sensation one morning when I woke up there, feeling that it sucks I can’t wake up to these sounds and the feeling of nature in my life day-to-day.

“Many people who live in cities have never experienced this at all.”

That revelation planted a seed in Nathan’s mind. How do we bring nature back to urban environments?

It got the academic side of his brain working. Why can’t we have dense, biodiverse life in our urban areas? He conducted a literature review and will soon speak to homeowners to better understand their feelings. There are many potential answers: economics, restrictions, culture.

“People see themselves as separate to nature. They believe it’s a destination, something you leave your home to go and experience. It’s not something you live in.”

Nathan thinks it doesn’t have to be that way. But convincing others of that is the real mission. His solution is marrying the spread of biodiversity to its benefits in wildfire management.

“Lots of people want to help conservation and increase biodiversity, but they don’t have the time and money to put into it from an altruistic point of view.

“Here’s a way we can give it direct consumer benefits. Wildfire management can be achieved through intelligent garden design, which also greatly increases biodiversity.

“The wildfire research is already done. What I’m doing is taking that research and learning how to apply it in practice, then communicating it in a digestible way.”

He’s in the process of developing straightforward, visual plans to help designers and homeowners better understand how different garden elements affect fire risk. Design elements include fence placement, material, how close the grass is to the home, common plant replacements, and more.

The result would be a safer home and an increase in local biodiversity. It’s a win-win and could greatly contribute to people’s sense of connection to nature.

“The garden is their space, it’s part of their home. They need to believe in the changes they’re going to see.

“What makes conservation successful is people caring about it.”