March Top stories
Another year to deliver a more natural capital
Link and its members have been working with CPRE London and 20 other NGOs working in London to outline a manifesto for the city, ahead of the Mayoral Elections due to take place in May. This manifesto, A More Natural Capital, grouped 24 key actions under four broad themes - action to reduce pollution and waste, to secure nature’s recovery, to increase resilience to climate change and to improve health and wellbeing. Understandably, the London elections have been postponed until 2021 as one of many measures being taken to protect public health. These many measures have seen Londoners seeking solace in the city’s green spaces more than ever, so it is clear a more natural capital is the way forward. To ensure politicians understand our need for nature, signatories will continue to develop this shared agenda over the coming months, working up action plans and exploring new ideas. Read more about this work in Neil Sinden, Director of CPRE Londons blog.
Coronavirus charity aid
Environment and conservation charities have been hit hard by the impact of the coronavirus. Closed sites, cancelled fundraising, reduced donations and decreased access to funding have all taken their toll, with some organisations estimating their income could be more than halved this year.
Wildlife and Countryside Link has been working to ensure that environmental funders and Government have the information they want, in order to give eNGOs the help that they need. Working with our sister organisations Scottish Environment Link, NI Environment Link and Wales Environment Link we have spoken to 55 organisations about the impact the coronavirus is having on them now and is likely to have on their frontline work in future. This information fed into the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s decisions to create a £50million emergency fund, and we continue to work with Government on this issue.
The Government this week announced a £750million charity aid package for charities struggling in the wake of the coronavirus. While this announcement is welcome many environment charities are saying more is needed to prevent their vital nature restoration and climate action work being compromised for years to come. Read our statement to find out more.
March Blogs & Publications
Amidst the covid-chaos, Andy Lester, Conservation Director at A Rocha UK, writes of hope and dreams. His blog delves into the positives this crisis could bring: connecting with nature, hearing the birds sing and appreciating the blossom on trees. If you need a little light today, definitely give his blog a read.
Other blogs tell us the battle for nature must go on! Neil Sniden, Director of CPRE London discusses where the postponement of the mayoral election might leave London’s nature; insisting the fight for a more natural capital must go on. Furthermore, Plantlife's new CEO, Ian Dunn, discusses the challenges ahead for strengthening our environmental foundations, and the willingness needed to deliver a transformative joined-up approach which can bring us back from the brink of collapse.
Link blogs, publications and press releases this month:
• Hope for the Planet
• The fight for a more natural capital must go on
• Our natural world: are we willing to meet the challenges ahead?
• Reforming the regulation initiative: deregulatory de ja vu?
• A more natural capital: a joint manifesto for London
• WCL respond to the shift in Government’s bovine TB strategy
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