"A new Nature Act is essential to securing our future as well as our precious wildlife" - Dr Martin Warren.

The problem with Nature is that we take it for granted. It provides us with the essentials for life such as food, fibre, fuel and fresh water. It’s always been there and always will. But will it?

Many scientists now believe we are moving into a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene. This is essentially an era where the overriding driver of change is human activity. The impact of the human race is now all pervasive, from the modification of most terrestrial habitats to the build-up of CO2 in the atmosphere and the increasing acidification of the ocean. And with the world’s population set to increase to 10 billion by the end of the century, these pressures are set to increase.

Where does Nature fit in this new scenario and how can we make sure it continues to provide the human race with vital life support system? These are weighty issues that conservationists are now wrestling with because it’s not just wildlife that we are trying to conserve but the very future of humanity.

As a major step to resolving these issues and establishing a new contract between humans and Nature, the RSPB and Wildlife Trusts are proposing a new Nature and Wellbeing Act. They have just published a Green Paper  that explains the four main elements:

1) A long term commitment to restore Nature, including specific targets for recovery.

2) A requirement to develop Local Ecological Networks, including a specific duty to identify and publish actions needed to save species at risk from extinction.

3) An independent body to ensure the value of nature is integrated into decision making and to hold Government to account.

4) A commitment to improve people’s access to Nature and provide education about its value. 

Butterfly Conservation’s mission is to specifically save butterflies and moths, but we recognise that we cannot do this in isolation. These insects need a healthy environment in which to survive. So we are giving the new Nature and Wellbeing Act our full support, not just for the future of the butterflies and moths that we care about, but also for the future of humanity itself.

If you care about Nature, please support this campaign and CLICK HERE to write to your MP, urging them to support a new Act.

Dr Martin Warren

BC Chief Executive

Follow me on Twitter @martinswarren and tweet #actfornature