Natural Fixes – how nature can help solve some of society’s big problems…

At a time when nature is under greater threat than ever, our need for it has never been more important.

As an ecologist, I’ve been immersed in the nature conservation world for more than 20 years.  For me, the importance of nature is paramount and obvious, but it is easy to forget just how unimportant and irrelevant nature is (apparently) to most people compared to issues such as the economy.

However, things are changing.  Last year’s floods, the obesity crisis, increasing awareness of mental health issues, concerns about food security and animal welfare, and the impact of climate change are now mainstream issues – and every one of these has an important link with the nature conservation agenda.

The economic and social costs of climate change, environmental pollution and biodiversity loss will be (and are already) significant.  Climate change could cost the equivalent of losing 5% of GDP each year, now and forever.  But natural habitats can play a major role in mitigation.

Obesity, mental health issues, diabetes, cardio-vascular disease, dementia and loneliness cost the UK economy £180 billion per year.  But contact with nature can have far-reaching benefits, helping to significantly reduce those costs.

Our wealth as a nation and our individual wellbeing depend critically upon the natural environment.  Nature provides us with the essential ecosystem services, goods and products needed for life – like drinking water, clean air and food.

OUR PROPOSITION

• Nature is the solution to many of society’s problems
• Nature and ecosystems provide multiple benefits to our economy, health and wellbeing
• Nature mitigates the impacts of climate change
• Our lives are so much better with wildlife in them

But we need to invest in its recovery.

A shocking 97% of our wildflower meadows are gone; 77% of our precious chalk streams are in poor condition and 60% of all species are still declining.  Nature cannot support us if we continue to use and abuse it.

There are those who argue that we cannot and should not put a price on nature.  I do share those concerns and for me, the intrinsic value of wildlife is enough.  It is truly priceless.  There are risks with trying to value nature especially using our flawed economic system which we all know is at the heart of many of our issues today.

However, I have found that using some hard facts and figures – such as those in the slides below – can be a very powerful way of showing some audiences how important nature is and how important it is for us to invest in it…

Benefits of woodlands

Benefits of rivers and wetlands

Benefits of marine habitats

Children and nature

Benefits of coastal habitats

Benefits of floodplain habitats

Benefits of meadows

Benefits of access to nature

Health benefits from nature

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The Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB are calling for a Nature and Wellbeing Act (read more here) which would put a duty on government to invest in nature’s recovery for its own sake and for the sake of our wellbeing.  You can support this idea here – and follow the conversation on twitter using #actfornature

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Water is essential for the economy.. but what about wildlife?

Snipe in the Avon Valley

Yet another publication from the Government today – the Water White Paper.  Could this be a plan for the recovery of our wetlands, rivers and the wider natural environment?

The Minister’s opening remarks in the Commons today started with how important water is for economic growth.  No surprise that this was the top of the list given this Government’s focus on the economy and little else at the moment.  

There are some welcome announcements in Water for Life however, including a commitment to a ‘catchment approach’ where landowners and key organisations work together on a large scale to protect and restore rivers and wetlands.  Whilst this seems a positive step forward, funds and support are urgently needed to make sure practical actions are taken rather than the approach resulting simply in more meetings and ‘stakeholder consultations’.

If implemented properly, a catchment approach can bring significant benefits for wildlife, ecosystem services and people.  Both Devon and Cornwall Wildlife Trusts are partners in South West Water’s Upstream Thinking project, which is addressing water quality issues by working with landowners to change management practices. Benefits so far include reduced fertiliser costs for farmers, and record web counts of marsh fritillary butterflies.

Taking a joined up approach is key: rivers don’t exist in isolation. Mountain, moorland, and upland heath provide 70% of the UK’s drinking water with 17 billion litres of water a day taken from ecosystems by public water demand. The benefits to investing in healthy, functioning ecosystems are clear. But we are still a long way from a totally integrated approach to protecting them. In fact, around 30% of the services they deliver are currently declining.*

An overarching framework for restoration of the natural environment is needed: one which recognises the interdependencies of land and water management. The principles the Government has set out are sound but will they succeed without a bigger and well resourced plan for nature’s recovery?

Helen Perkins at the Wildlife Trusts national office has concerns about the timescales mentioned in the White Paper, such as implementation of a new abstraction regime not due until the mid to late 2020s.

Helen says: “Water shortages present immediate threats to wildlife. Low water levels from both abstraction and drought conditions can trigger serious declines in species such as water vole, and compromise the breeding success of fish species such as brown trout. The long timescales and the piecemeal way in which changes will be introduced is a concern. With the drought situation currently unfolding, action is needed now.”

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