The RSPB view |
The RSPB view
After a decade of painstaking work, and with huge support from our partner, the Teesside Environmental Trust, and many others, we recently opened our Saltholme Wildlife Reserve and Discovery Park. It is a fabulous place. Watching scores of lapwings tumbling above the newly restored wetlands is a heart-warming sight and people are flocking to see it. In just six weeks, 15,000 visitors enjoyed the wildlife spectacle and we expect that Saltholme will grow to attract at least 100,000 visits each year. Clearly, people want nature in their lives and, perhaps, in these difficult economic times more of us will turn back to the simpler things in life.
As world politicians respond to the economic crisis, they need to think beyond the banks. It is not just financial debt that has escalated, but an increasing ecological debt that threatens our future prosperity. The twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change are global proof that we are living beyond our means. Politicians must be prepared to address ecological debt as well as economic debt. Unless we invest in protecting and restoring our natural world, we are not just borrowing from future generations, we are in effect stealing from them. Ecological debt is essentially a loan from our children and grandchildren—unless we invest in protecting and restoring our natural world, we are not just borrowing from future generations, we are in effect stealing from them. This month, our Government announces its Budget and measures to help restart the economy. We are not expecting the Chancellor to announce plans to create local nature reserves across the country (though come to think of it, why not?), but it surely makes sense to invest in measures to protect nature and reap “free” public services such as flood control, carbon storage and spiritual enrichment.
If the Chancellor accepts this argument, we might expect around £14 billion to support measures to cut the energy we consume and help deliver renewable energy. This would be extremely welcome and could help restructure our economy to reduce our dependency on fossil fuel.
An enlightened Government would choose the most environmentally benign solutions, which produce clean energy at an affordable cost. In 2005, the UK Government outlined its vision for sustainable development. It acknowledged that a strong economy was not an objective in its own right, but rather a means to delivering its twin targets of a healthy and just society, living within environmental limits. During this period of genuine economic pain and uncertainty, we hope that the Government’s actions will reflect the principles they set out in easier times. Graham Wynne, chief executive of the RSPB |
Bird guideNature reservesThe RSPB ViewThe RSPB's Chief Executive, Graham Wynne, writes this regular column in the quarterly membership magazine, BIRDS. What's happening near you?Find out about events, volunteering, Date with Nature events and reserves in your part of the country. |