The RSPB AGM was an uplifting end to a tough week.
Tragically, two brilliant colleagues – John Lanchbery and Roy Taylor - passed away this week. In very different ways, they personified the best of the RSPB.
John dedicated his career to securing global action to tackle climate change particularly through reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the loss of tropical forests which was a core part of the landmark Paris Agreement. Roy focused on shaping policy to drive practical conservation (for example through SCAMP) and there are large swathes of northern England that have been transformed thanks to his vision, dedication and boundless enthusiasm.
These two heroes of conservation died in the week after the publication of the IPCC report –the latest wake up call and reminder that the scale of the political response is miles away from what needs to happen to avoid global temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Centigrade above greenhouse gas emissions.
Roy on the left, John on the right (images courtesy of David Morris and Olly Watts)
Our job is to ensure that their legacy continues both by nurturing what they achieved but also by using the knowledge and inspiration that they passed on to us. That means we shall support calls for the UK Government to set a new target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. We shall continue to argue for a revolution in the way we use and generate energy in harmony with nature. We shall make the case for greater investment in protecting natural habitats at home and internationally (such as forests and peatlands) to protect both the climate and biodiversity. And, we shall explore how best to reduce the carbon footprint of what we eat including, as I promised in response to a question from the AGM floor today, whether to promote meat-free Mondays (or more) through our own catering operation.
I was sorry that John and Roy were not at our AGM yesterday to see another hero, Caroline Lucas MP, receive the RSPB Medal for her immense contribution to environmental causes and to hear her impassioned speech calling for greater action to save nature.
I was sorry that they were not there to see such dedicated volunteers receive their President’s award for the work they contribute to our charity.
I was sorry that they did not hear a member of our Phoenix Forum, Will Walsh, remind our membership of the passion and drive of teenagers giving confidence that the next generation are up for the challenge of dealing with whatever mess we pass on to them.
And, I was sorry that they did not hear fantastic talks from my colleagues about our work to save threatened species such as curlew, seabirds and Asian vultures, restoring special places like Franchises Lodge in the New Forest and inspiring more people to support our work.
Clockwise from top left: Sarah Sanders talking curlews, Richard and Lynn Ebbs receiving their President's Award from Miranda Krestovnikoff, Caroline Lucas MP accepting her RSPB Medal and Clare Stringer providing an update on our vulture programme
But, the AGM was uplifting.
It offered cause for realistic optimism that we have people prepared to dedicate their lives – like John and Roy - to tackling the twin crises of climate change and loss of biodiversity.
After the AGM, I headed north with the family for half term. My first stop is to part of Roy Taylor's England - RSPB St Aidan’s where I am running a half-marathon connecting another of our nature reserves Fairburn Ings.
I hope you have a great week.
Keith - I did not include your first six lines because you are incorrect.
An outstanding AGM Martin, very enjoyable and I would just like to say I think the RSPBs stance on Hen Harrier reintroduction in the south west is the right one . This Westminister Government has not lifted a single meaningful finger to date to prevent the persecution of much of our wildlife on grouse moors, compare this to the introduction of vicarious liability for grouse moor owners by the Scottish Government. The brood meddling proposal by the Government is quite rightly seen as a complete farce and quite rightly is being legally challenged.
So until this Government puts aside its vested interests in grouse moors and shooting (slaughter) for so called “sport” and does the right thing for a change, there there is no doubt the RSPBs stance is the right one.
redkite
As requested by our President and Chair, I introduced myself - as did all others who spoke - as a 'fully paid-up' member of our Charity and volunteer. I suppose I could have added that I am a fully paid-up member of the BOU, fully paid-up member of and volunteer for the BTO, fully paid-up member of CBW&PS, EH, GWCT, H&OT, NT, RAFOS, SBS & SOC, but it was the last question before lunch......
Did you even attend the AGM?
And anyway none of my other memberships would have been relevant to the question & suggestion that I posed to the panel at the AGM of the Charity of which I am a fully paid-up member and for whom I carry out voluntary work.
Only the senior leadership team of our Society are in a position to answer why we have not thrown the full weight of our Charity's considerable expertise in species' reintroductions and reinforcements behind Defra's planned southern England hen harrier reintroduction plan. Particularly as our Society fully endorsed the plan in the first place, and then pulled out, precipitously, before the results of the first breeding season after plan endorsement were even known.
I made the point that we are perfectly happy to endorse and actively support other reintroductions such as those of the red kite, the golden eagle and the white-tailed eagle, amongst other species - despite ongoing persecution concerns - so what is different in this case?
I added that I thought this would be good for the hen harrier in England, good for our Charity and would represent a generous and magnanimous gesture to the Secretary-of-State for the Environment (and his Department). After all, he pointedly reached out to our Society in the very first days of his tenure when he might have been expected to have had many, many other imperatives, agency & departmental officials and other lobby groups all vying for his attention. He chose our Charity.
Do you not want to see hen harriers gracing the skies of southern England over your local farmed-landscape, and contributing to the restoration of England’s breeding hen harrier population?
And I might add that Martin was his usual courteous and personable self in answering my question and in our brief chat afterwards.
It’s truly shocking if true that 10% of the RSPB staff are being made redundant. I would like to know the reason why.
Regards,
Ian.
Why wasn’t the RSPB’s Annual General Meeting not covered live on YouTube this year as in 2017. It was also covered live on the RSPB website in 2017.