Dr. Jared Margulies will deliver the keynote address at the 2025 Albatross Lecture, hosted by Sustainable Futures at The University of Manchester. This thought-provoking event will explore the effectiveness of harsher sentencing laws, criminalization, and punishment in addressing the illegal wildlife trade.
Dr. Margulies, Assistant Professor at The University of Alabama and author of The Cactus Hunters: Desire and Extinction in the Illicit Succulent Trade, will draw on his extensive research to argue for a shift away from criminalization. Instead, he proposes an approach grounded in conservation justice, demonstrating how punitive measures can exacerbate social harm and ecological damage.
The lecture will examine lessons on conservation justice through examples from the global illegal cactus and succulent trade, alongside ongoing research in South Africa and North Carolina. Dr. Margulies will highlight innovative ways to address ecological challenges while advancing social justice.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion and enjoy lunch as part of the event. Additionally, there will be an exclusive tour of the Wild exhibition, though spaces are limited. Attendees interested in the tour are encouraged to express their interest during registration.
Join this important discussion on how to promote justice for both people and the planet.
