Dr Meri Juntti

Sustainable Rural Development

My research on this theme has focussed on the way that European agri-environmental policy and the UN Convention on combatting desertification are implemented and how this influences policy compliance. Findings point to the benefits of deliberative implementation practice and policysolutions that integrate land managers’ knowledge and practical knowhow asessential to functional and effective environmental policy (e.g. Juntti andPotter 2002; Juntti and Wilson 2005; Juntti 2012; Juntti and Downward 2017). Ihave since worked on RICS and RTPI funded projects on the impact of land-basedinvestment on rural communities, environment and economies and the ability of ruralplanning to further environmentalconservation, biodiversity and ecosystem services provision (e.g. Gallent etal. 2019; Livingstone et al. 2019). An ongoing project funded by the British Councilfocuses on the scope for digitally supported urban agriculture to further resiliencein cities in the UK and Vietnam.

Urban nature

I've had three externally funded projects where I've developed the notion of ‘experienced environmental quality’ to better represent theactual benefits (and at times harms) that urban nature has the potential toyield for urban communities. A key aim has been to render this experiential knowledge visiblealongside scientific evidence in urban planning, in order to further urbanenvironmental justice. Peer reviewed publications from this work have centredon proof of concept and a new epistemology (Juntti and Lundy 2017), lessonsfrom the global south for research and planning (Juntti et al. 2021) factors influencing the realisation of the benefits of urban nature in the complex urban context and implications for good practice in research andplanning (Juntti and Ozsezer-Kurnuc 2023) and the role of planning institutions andpractices in equal and fair access to the benefits of urban nature (Juntti etal. under review). I’ve worked with London Development Trust to publishguidance for Local Authorities, Housing Developers and other stakeholders(Juntti and Ozsezer-Kurnuc 2022 https://ldtgroup.org.uk/social-impact-of-urban-nature-in-regeneration/). 

I lead the MA Global Governance and Sustainable Development.

I lead the followingmodules:

-         SSC4604 global governance for sustainabledevelopment

-         SSC4606/PRS4530 environmental law and governance

-         SSC4994 dissertation

I presently supervisetwo PhD students:

Arzoo Hassan – Recognition justice in flood risk management

Manasa Sarawan – Climate change adaptation strategies of theIrular people: an intersectional analysis

I am the Academic Integrity Tutor of the Department of Lawand Social Sciences

I deliver Carbon Literacy Training (®Manchester Metropolitan University) in the Departments of Natural Sciences and Law and Social Sciences.