Time will tell if this year, dubbed the International Year of Biodiversity, will be all it’s been cracked up to be.
New year is a time for optimism but the start of this new decade feels a bit like an uphill slog for optimists. Copenhagen faltered and failed to deliver and across the world, targets to reduce the loss of biodiversity (and actually halt its decline within the EU) by 2010 are not being met. That target was why 2010 was made International Year of Biodiversity.
Before Christmas, I recorded an interview for Sky on the folly of plans to build large airports in the middle of the Thames estuary – here’s a link. In so many ways, the latest manifestation of this obsession (known as Boris Island) is a case study of how to pre-determine a future in which nature has fewer special places and we ratchet up the climate chaos. The worst of both worlds.
But it is new year - and it is time to be positive so:
Reasons to be cheerful one, two three.
One. It’s election year – politicians are listening. You could start by signing our Letter to the Future (get ahead of the rush as you will be hearing a lot more about this campaign between now and the General Election).
Two. Conservation works – its easy to focus on the challenges and difficulties ahead. It’s worth looking taking a moment to reflect on what we have achieved in the first decade of the 21st century.
Three. Our wonderful members and supporters. Everything we have been able to achieve is down to the generous and unstinting support of over a million members. There’s never been a more important time to add your voice and if you haven’t already, please consider joining the RSPB.
Happy New Year