Over the past few weeks, a number of people have kindly offered their thoughts through this blog on how we should collectively respond to the State of Nature report published by 25 organisations on 22 May. What struck me from reading all these posts, and the comments that they generated, was that many people are arguing for a total rethink in the way society relates to the natural world and "how we motivate people" (Ralph Underhill). The world would look very different if we recognised nature as "essential to human welfare" (Tony Juniper), regarded "nature conservation as a legitimate land use" (Rob Wilson), "empowered individuals from 3 to 103 with a deep excitement and reverence for nature" (Andy Lester), or reached out to more people by celebrating nature through the creative arts (Harriet Meade).
Advice for the conservation community included improving the way we work with business (Andy Spencer), doing more for urban wildlife (RSPB Phoenix member), looking for "big wins" and "work within financial reality" (David Fursdon). We were also encouraged to do more to tackle the impacts of a growing population (RSPB Phoenix member) and consumption by taking a "look in your supermarket and don't waste" (Rob Yorke). I offered some thoughts on George Monbiot's call for rewilding, while Ruth Davis (for whom some are lobbying to be the next Prime Minister) suggested that we worked closer with social causes to argue for "green affordable housing" and "a living wage" for farmers while she also proposed the establishment of a new "institution to protect land and wildlife from short-termism".
We also received some pracitical suggestions for all of us as individuals: "to do no harm" (Richard Mabey), to "quell our insatiable desire for cheap food" and "elect decision-makers who care about and understand widlife" (Chris Packham), to have more contact with nature from an early age (Jon Nott) or to "get rid of the car, stop flying and live on a 3ha smallholding" (PeterCrispin). Iolo Williams' gauntlet was designed to look the next generation in the eye when they ask the question "what did you do about the terrible state of nature in 2013?"
I hope you all have an answer to that question. I know I need at least one, as tonight I am at the City Hall in Bristol joining Simon King and others on a panel to debate the response to State of Nature. It's being run in a 'Question Time' format and is being chaired by TV Producer and naturalist, Stephen Moss. It should be fun. Apparently 400 people have booked to come along. It is also being streamed online and so if you are struggling to find something to do this evening, either go outside looking for wildlife (good idea) or sit in front of the computer watching the debate (next best thing). Tomorrow, I shall outline the RSPB's response in a more structured way...
I suspect that whatever you said last night (or didn't?) Martin, you would have been preaching to the converted. What is needed is to touch and motivate the many people who don't see 'saving nature' as any of their business. When it comes to preaching and getting the message 'out there', we could take a leaf out of John Wesley's book. He is estimated to have journeyed over 250,000 miles, and to have preached some 42,000 sermons in over fifty cities and in many more towns and villages up and down the country (horses and feet probably being no more dependable than trains). His was an audience of 'all and sundry' and he spoke to them whether or not they wanted to hear what he had to say. One more little thing for nature?