David North, Head of
People and Wildlife
Well not everyone would agree I’m sure, but to me
conservation is just as much about policies as it’s about managing
habitats. What is nature conservation
really about? Surely it’s about the way
we treat our environment and the relationship we have with the other species
that we share this planet with.
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| Hickling Broad, by Richard Osbourne |
Conservation viewed this way is far too important to
sideline into the way we manage nature reserves. The relationship we have with
the natural world, our living environment, will in the long run determine much
of our quality of life, the success of our economy, our health and that of
future generations, our future climate, and also of course the fate of the
other living species that live alongside us.
Heady stuff perhaps, but this view of conservation makes it perhaps the central question that
society must grapple with. Conservation
viewed this way is central to all of us, whether we live in cities, towns or
the countryside.
The frightening thing is how little we hear conservation
discussed in this way. How often do our
business leaders or politicians really put maintaining and enhancing the
ecosystem services which are the basis for our economies and societies on their
management or cabinet agendas? The answer
must surely be, not often enough.
So if we care about conservation, we are going to need our
pens as well as our brush cutters, to start ensuring that policies get
implemented that work and respect nature rather than exploit nature and take it
for granted. This is where your pens
come in. If you care about protecting
nature then get writing; to parish councils, district councils, your MPs and
MEPs. There are so many issues to
campaign about. Issues that need our
pens: from securing Marine Conservation Zones, preventing pesticides killing
our bees, saving sites and saving species, both locally and globally.
On 13 March, MEPs will vote on proposals for the Common Agricultural
Policy (CAP) 2014-2020 including over 300 detailed amendments. All of
these will be important for the future of our farmed landscape. Send a message NOW directly to your MEP on voting for a nature-friendly CAP.
Get writing and change the world.
