My major criticism of Defra's Natural Environment White Paper last summer was that it lacked a convincing funding strategy. Yes, there is new money for Nature Improvement Areas, yes for improving our water bodies and yes there is an intent to make environmental stewardship schemes work harder for farmers and wildlife. All good stuff and genuinely welcome. But the sad reality is that this will be insufficient to reverse the fortunes of threatened wildlife. Remember, government's own figures have suggested the conservation finance shortfall currently stands at £275 million.
Given the state of the economy, it was (and remains) difficult to be too grumpy about the lack of significant new resources. But it is possible to be grumpy that Defra has yet to come up with a plan to show how it can leverage new resources to support nature conservation.
In 2010, we published a report outlining options for non-public finance. I think that it is time to explore these options with a sense of urgency. For example, we said that "businesses and civil society have a key role in addressing the biodiversity challenge. Innovative measures and the creation of partnerships can help to raise funds and deliver better conservation". Where is the plan to excite and engage the business community to support wildlife?
We've been here before, but for whatever reason, we have failed to forge a strategic and lasting relationship with the business community to tackle the biodiversity crisis.
We had a go in the early 1990s when the then Environment Secretary, John Gummer, launched the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. This was the then Conservative Government's response to the the Rio Earth Summit in part thanks to some effective chivvying from the NGOs (a gang of six under the umbrella of Biodiversity Challenge).
The old BAP (as it became fondly known) had at its heart a partnership between government, business and NGOs. The idea was simple. Government would fix places and habitats, NGOs would look after the most threatened species, while business would find the money, acting as corporate champions. So, ICI supported the Large Blue and Pearl-Bordered Fritillary, Tesco supported Skylark, the Co-op supported Bittern and Mileta Tog 24 (a Yorkshire clothing company) supported the Stag Beetle. And, together we achieved some great things. But, under the Labour administration, for whatever reason, it petered out.
I know that there have been a plethora of corporate tie-ups since then, but I think the strategic partnership which Mr Gummer conceived was compelling and could have worked. Our limited recent experience suggests that this approach may be worth another go. The relationship which we have forged with Famous Grouse (which led to the creation of Black Grouse Whisky and lots of money in support of black grouse conservation) suggests that if there is a good brand fit between business and the bit of biodiversity that you are trying to save, there could be great mutual benefits.
I don't have a plan. And, I don't think Defra does either. My point is that we probably need to get one.
Do you think businesses can and should do more to support nature conservation? Which species would you match with which brand?
It would be great to hear your views
Hi Martin, i fully agree a concerted push in the business area is well worhwhile. Not easy to think of obvious approaches, but here are one or two suggestions. Barclays Bank have an eagle as their emblem/logo so they might like to support an eagle project. Centrica I see are reported to be fairly flushed with money at the moment, they might be worth approaching. Glaxo S/K ans Astra Zeneca, two of the UKs leading pharmaceutical companies may similary be worth checking. The water companies are another possibility although I think there may already be a RSPB/ United Utilities arrangement (not sure). The oil giants Shell, BP, Exxon, Texaco may be worth a try, especially BP after the Gulf Oil disaster.
Some thoughts anyway.
Sooty's suggestion of having one person responsible for running a project or conservation programme is an interesting one. Under the original Biodiversity Action Plan, the one that introduced the idea of corporate champions, we had something similar. For every priority species, the Government identified and recognised a 'Lead Partner'. This was a named individual within an organisation (sometimes within Government but many within NGOs). These individuals were given responsibility for a number of things including reporting progress and co-ordinating funding for project work. RSPB staff were active Lead Partners for 25 birds and 11 other species and others, e.g. Plantlife, Butterfly Conservation and Bat Conservation Trust, were also active and enthusiastic Lead Partners. Unfortunately Lead Partners were not identified for species that were added to the priority list in 2007 and the UK Lead Partner role has now been dropped by Government. Hopefully this is the sort of initiative that could be restored under the revised England Biodiversity Strategy.
Thanks Sooty. I agree that there is a limit to what we can expect and that understanding company motivation is key. But I do think this needs a concerted push. We'll ponder further.
Think that is a great idea Martin,each business supports one project.The problem is we would have to either get one person responsible for running a program and somehow doubt the Government would appoint someone which unfortunately only really leaves the RSPB which would in actual fact be the perfect fit.Perhaps we could get funding from Heritage,Lottery or ourselves or a combination of these.Think personally we must not expect too much from company's in these hard times.Maybe we should try and get the company's to say which they would like to support as hopefully that would give them a bigger incentive.