2017: reasons to be optimistic

There are 1,092 days until 2020 - the date by which the nations of the world have committed to halting biodiversity loss. That's just over a thousand days to demonstrate that it is possible for our species to change its course and learn to live in harmony with nature.

Statistics about the state of nature at home and globally illustrate the scale of the challenge, and a growing population consuming more creates a desperate situation.

Over Christmas, I was struck by how deeply one of my relatives felt about the plight of the giraffe. He had heard the news that the global giraffe population had plummeted by up to 40% over the last 30 years, and the species had been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. He was in a pretty depressed state about it - there is clearly something about the plight of this iconic species that summed up everything that is wrong with how our species is treating our planet.

Wigeon flying over RSPB Ham Wall reserve by David Kjaer (rspb-images.com)

Many can feel helpless when faced with the enormity of the challenge of stopping the seemingly inexorable march towards mass extinction. Yet, we know what needs to be done and there are countless examples around the world of people improving their natural environment: saving special places from development, recovering threatened species and meeting human needs without compromising the needs of nature. This will be the feature of two significant events in 2017.

First, the Earth Optimism Summit taking place around the world on the weekend of 21-23 April (coinciding with the RSPB Weekend) is an opportunity to put a spotlight on solutions to 21st-century conservation problems.  

Second, the BirdLife International Congress from 9-14 October will be the latest gathering of our global family, with partners from 120 countries coming together to share their ambitions for and experience of saving nature.

Both events should demonstrate the skill and expertise of the global conservation community, will build solidarity, and I hope will instill confidence that we are and will continue to make things better for nature.

At the RSPB, we have experience of:

• Finding solutions to conservation problems such as the decline in Asian vultures
• Protecting and managing the most important places for wildlife such as the Flow Country, the Suffolk coast or West Atlantic oakwoods
• Recreating lost habitat at places such as Wallasea Island, Ham Wall or Lakenheath 
• Reintroducing species such as red kite, crane and white-tailed eagle 
• Tackling direct threats to species such as seabird bycatch from fishing or persecution of birds of prey
• Growing food whilst restoring farmland wildlife
• Restoring catchments to clean water supplies while also improving habitat for wildlife
• Influencing governments for example to protect the marine environment around four UK Overseas Territories  
• Connecting millions of people to nature every year for example through visits to our reserves and participation in Big Garden Birdwatch

Our impact is not the result of one individual, but thousands of staff and volunteers working with a wide variety of partners and supported by our million members. The RSPB is entering its 128th year of influencing change in the way humans relate to nature and it remains an enormous privilege to work for this institution - the vehicle through which we can channel our vocation to protect the natural world. And this is why, even in these changing times, we continue to work hard to ensure that the institution is in its best shape to continue to have impact for the next 128 years.  

In order to keep us fit and flexible to deal with whatever the external environment throws at us, we’ve undertaken some internal reorganisation, and as a result my role will be changing this year. With the appointment of a new Director for England, and the retirement of two key people on our Board, I will assume responsibilities for our international work (on UK Overseas Territories and our work with and through the BirdLife International partnership to recover species on the the Palaearctic-African flyway and where we are making a material difference globally). I will still lead our conservation strategy but will start to lean out of England and focus instead on cross-UK and international matters.

As I look out at the year stretching before me, there are a few things that dominate the horizon: Article 50, the Great Repeal Bill, new policies for agriculture and fisheries all triggered by the Brexit vote. Each presents jeopardy and opportunity for nature and each will attract much debate and attention as the UK seeks to forge a new relationship with the European Union. The Greener UK coalition, which has been established to make Brexit work for nature, is made up of 13 organisations supported by 7.9 million people. Together, we believe that we can and must make Brexit work for nature. This is why I am pleased to read today's Environmental Audit Committee's report on Brexit and the environment which argues that we must maintain and improve environmental protections, re-balance support to farmers toward pubic goods, such as biodiversity and find more resources - both public and private – to meet challenge of restoring biodiversity within a generation.

So, in 2017, remain alarmed by the plight of giraffes and the other tens of thousands of species threatened with extinction, but also be optimistic that we can make a difference and turn things round. Go further and resolve this year to be when we start to create the future that we want and nature needs.