Residents, businesses, community groups and other organisations are being invited to make a pledge for nature ahead of Cornwall & Isles of Scilly's first Ecological Emergency Summit this month.
The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership has launched the Pledge4Nature campaign to encourage residents to commit to taking action to reverse the decline of nature and wildlife.
As part of the campaign the Partnership will host an Ecological Emergency Summit at Heartlands and online on March 24 when speakers will discuss some of the action being taken to protect nature.
The summit is free to attend in person or virtually and is open to all. Book your tickets now.
Last year a coalition of environmental groups from the Partnership declared an ecological emergency in response to growing evidence that nature is under threat and recognise its importance in keeping us healthy and prosperous and providing flood resilience and a stable climate.
The Cornwall event comes ahead of the UN Biodiversity Conference COP15, taking place in Kunming, China, later this year to create a new global plan.
Lord Robin Teverson, Chair of the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership, said: “Our Local Nature Partnership declared an emergency at the end of last year. We are seriously worried by how much nature is in retreat, even here in Cornwall and Scilly. Our environment is in trouble. Rather than just despair at the statistics we need to do something about it. That is why we are asking and challenging everybody from individuals to business and public bodies to take the pledge.
“If we work together we can start to turn this around. This is something really important.”
Carolyn Cadman, Chief Executive of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said: " Many local birds, bees and plants are at risk of extinction and at least 47 of our most important species are at threat.
“But there are grounds for hope. There is so much incredible work happening for nature locally. We encourage everyone to take action for nature and share your pledge – create a bug hotel in your garden, start a community orchard, support sustainable local food producers, or volunteer to clean a local beach. Nature needs you!"
Cllr Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change said: “Even if we fully decarbonise we still risk ecosystem collapse as our habitats are being degraded, polluted and destroyed.
“There is lots of incredible work going on locally, from innovative nature-friendly farming to our active community groups out planting and recording. But we need to scale that up to meet the challenge – to house, feed and enjoy ourselves in a more nature-positive way. And that’s something every one of us can pledge to be a part of.”
Let us know your pledge for nature, and book your tickets for the March 24 Ecological Emergency Summit at naturecios.org.uk/pledge
Story posted March 7, 2022
