Nature can survive very well without us and would embark on a ‘restoration programme’ with surprising speed and ease. Unfortunately, we cannot survive without nature. We cannot continue to extract nature’s freely given reserves at the current rate and not suffer unintended consequences. The already apparent evidence of those consequences has led to a global understanding that we are facing a climate and ecological emergency.
COP15 has delivered some clear targets for protecting nature and we, as an industry, must now bring it to the forefront of our decision making going forward if we are to have a sustainable and regenerative future. The UK government has committed to manage 30% of the land for nature by 2030 but, according to Wildlife and Countryside Link “only 3% of land could reliably be said to be specifically protected by nature, rather less than the 26% suggested by the Government.” How can we close the present 27% gap and is 30% actually enough for future resilience?
The challenge ahead is considerable and urgent, but actions need to be taken for long term recovery not quick tree planting projects!
FUTUREBUILD PROPOSITION NO 9: The natural and built environments are so tightly interconnected that any decision making on development must be influenced by its impact on nature.
Chair: Dame Fiona Reynolds, former Master of Emmanuel College Cambridge and former Director-General of the National Trust
Assessing the state of the natural world and resources in the UK
Craig Bennett, Chief Executive, The Wildlife Trusts
Restoring the natural world must be part of the economy
James Alexander, Chair, Finance Earth
We need comprehensive, integrated land use framework for the whole of the UK so that nature recovery and essential development can co-exist
Jenny Merriman, Technical Director, WSP
The Environment Act – what next?
Richard Benwell, Chief Executive, Wildlife and Countryside Link
