Guest Blog by Ruby Free, Campaigning Communications Officer, RSPB NI
From the towering Mourne Mountains to the cascading Causeway Coast and low-lying lands of Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland’s environment is diverse and iconic. However, it needs protecting and restoring more than ever.
Why ‘Nature Positive’?
Source, www.naturepositive.org
Nature Positive is a concept, established as a “north star” to drive global action for nature.
The term was coined by a coalition of conservation organisations who wanted to raise the prominence of biodiversity loss in the nature and climate emergency.
In the same way we talk about carbon emissions being ‘net zero’ or ‘net positive’, nature can be described in these terms too. It’s important we use terms such as ‘nature positive’ when talking about environmental goals, because the nature emergency is as important as the climate emergency, these issues are two sides of the same coin.
For many people species loss is not noticeable. Floods and forest fires appear as clear evidence of climate change on the news, but species loss, to a population with a declining connection to nature, is less spectacular and less tangible.
A Nature Positive NI
Northern Ireland ranks 12th worst out of 240 countries for biodiversity loss and must act ambitiously in this shared global crisis! NI is home to flora and fauna species that you cannot find anywhere else in the world, it also holds huge proportions of the world’s migratory species, and boasts a wide range of habitats, however, this unique and iconic biodiversity that surrounds us is rapidly disappearing.
Many people don’t realise that the small changes they are making and the actions they are taking can help to make progress towards tackling nature loss.
But, this is not enough. Nature Positive NI hopes to extend the discussion of systemic change in Northern Ireland. From the way we eat, travel and spend, to the land that is protected and designated for nature, we must look at the issues we are facing at a bigger scale and recognise that the problems society faces; the cost of living crisis, our health and wellbeing, are intrinsically linked to the state of nature.
The reality we’re facing…
Nature is our life support system; we need healthy, stable ecosystems for all else to thrive. The nature crisis doesn’t just affect wildlife, it affects all of us and with 11% of species at risk of extinction here in Northern Ireland, there is an urgent need for action on biodiversity loss.
Campaigning for Change
With the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) taking place shortly and a redevelopment of DAERAs Biodiversity Strategy already underway, we believe there is a significant need to campaign on raising the bar of ambition in Northern Ireland.
As a society, we have the answers; the technologies and nature-based solutions, we just need the ambition, investment, legislation and will from governmental departments. While DEARA’s biodiversity strategy is under review, RSPB NI will be working to create action that will demand targets in the law for nature’s protection.
We hope to see departments acting drastically to halt and reverse nature loss in the forthcoming biodiversity strategy and we also hope to see a society of empowered individuals taking action.
We have launched a five-point plan, calling for NI citizens to take action locally.
Because while we wait for systemic change, nature needs you.
Individual actions go a long way…
Why not advocate for that species that you love, or have perhaps never been able to see, write a letter to your MLA and join a protest. Make a change to your lifestyle, plant pollinator rich flowers, build a bird box or grow some vegetables.
Nature also needs our collective efforts!
We achieve so much more when we work together. Team up with your neighbours to create a series of wildlife corridors, create a nature society at your university, start a community veg patch, organise a local beach clean, the list is endless! Take a look at this community alleyway in the heart of Belfast, which is a prime example of a #NaturePositiveNI action!
As you can see above, there is so much we can all do to stand up for nature.
To keep updated on all things Nature Positive NI, be sure to subscribe to our campaigns mailing list or if you’re between 13 – 29, why not become a Youth Campaigner?
For further inquiries on Nature Positive NI, contact campaigns.ni@rspb.org.uk