Emily Kench
Cley Marshes Marketing and Community Intern
We are currently witnessing one of the craziest presidential
elections in history. It seems to me that in amongst the profanities, the
personalities, and the politics, the true cause of the campaign – the people –
has been forgotten.
Tony Juniper: The Wildlife Trusts' President |
Staying in, watching the TV and despairing at international
news has become a daily ritual. So on Friday evening, I opted for a change of practice.
Rather than tut and groan at events playing out on the other side of the world,
I thought I’d see if more local events could offer me any hope. I donned my
walking boots and wandered down to the Norwich Science Festival at the Forum to
hear the President of The Wildlife Trusts plea.
Tony Juniper, bestselling
author and committed conservationist, added Wildlife Trust President to his
extensive list of achievements back in 2015. After inspiring millions with his
book What has nature ever done for us? and
the sequel, What Nature Does for Britain,
over 100 like-minded people came together to hear the man of the moment
speak.
It is fair to say that in
amongst the recognition and the accolades, Tony has not forgotten his ethos
which truly resonates with Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s vision. We must create a
future where wildlife is
protected and enhanced through sympathetic management and people are connected
with and inspired by wildlife and wild spaces.
Tony did not preach, he did not patronise, he
purely highlighted simple conservation principles. The talk focussed on the
positives, the solutions, and the opportunities available to us.
In conservation, it’s common to hear that we’re too
late and we’ve missed our chance. We have become accustomed to the concept that
we can only conserve what we have at present, and even then we may have missed
the boat. However, Tony challenged this thought process. He emphasised the
importance of rewilding and restoration. He highlighted how ecosystem services
can help us to value our natural resources in a way that is compatible with the
markets.
Most importantly, in our wave of post-Brexit
uncertainty, where neither the implications for wildlife or people are
understood, Tony offered assurance that conservation practices can improve. We
must not focus on what we have lost, but instead what we can gain. If as a
nation of consumers, we speak of our desire to protect our wildlife, we can
make change happen. Forward-thinking can put us ahead of the game. Proactive
engagement with businesses and politicians right now can help us to influence
policy-making in the future.
Tony Juniper inspiring an audience at the Norwich Science Festival |
This kind of insight can only come from someone who
not only knows British wildlife like the back of their hand, but who can also
connect with people from all walks of life. The audience was in awe, and even a
few people munching on garlic bread in Pizza Express above stopped to listen.
By the end of the talk I was filled with a sense of
heart-warming hope. Forget Trump and Clinton, in Tony Juniper I had found my
own president: a president of people and wildlife.
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