Today, the People's Plan for Nature was launched. A world first, this is the public's vision for the future of nature in the UK and the actions that we all need to take to protect and renew it. It's a thoughtful and thought-provoking assessment of what matters in nature and where we need to go from here.

The process was complex and deliberative. 30,000 submissions were received in answer to a request for what people love about nature and what their vision was for its future. These were taken forward by the People's Assembly for Nature, a group of over 100 citizens from across the UK who came together over four weekends to listen to evidence and discuss the best solutions they thought could work for everyone. The end result is a Plan created by the people of the UK with a vision for the future of nature and the actions that everyone - governments, businesses, communities and individuals - need to take to protect and renew it.

The People's Plan for Nature calls for fundamental change on how we value nature in the UK, including mandating the inclusion of nature in decision-making at all levels. The Plan calls for no more harm to nature, and for UK-wide and regional targets to be set to renew nature and increase biodiversity. It also calls for the creation of a permanent assembly on nature.

Obviously as a nature charity we are biased, but many of the outcomes reiterate the thoughts we went through when we were producing our strategy in 2021.

Too often we think of 'Nature' as happening somewhere else, more exotic, more wild. But what Wild Isles has shown us is that here in the UK nature is just as amazing, just as precious, and just as under threat as the rest of the world. Too often is is claimed that care for the environment can only happen once there is economic certainty or an international level playing field, but if we wait any longer it will be too late. We need nature if we as a country, as communities, as individuals, are going to thrive. We need to change our relationship with nature.

Butterfly Conservation absolutely supports the messages from the Plan:

  • Nature in the UK is in crisis. Decades of damage has pushed our incredible wildlife and wild places to the brink. The nature crisis affects everyone, so everyone should have a say about how we solve it. Together, we all have the power to make a real difference.
  • Nature really does bring us together. In a time when we can feel more divided than ever, the world's first People's Plan for Nature has brought people from all walks of life - with all types of opinions - together to find common ground on the action we need to take to save nature. It proves that there is more that unites us than divides us.
  • The People's Plan for Nature has been written by the people, for the people. It calls for immediate action to protect and renew nature. The people have spoken. Now we need everyone to act.
  • We're running out of time to act - but there is hope. We can stop nature's destruction. Our nature and wildlife can be protected. We can renew nature and in doing so tackle the climate crisis. 

You can find out more, and download a copy of the People's Plan for Nature here.

Julie Williams, CEO, Butterfly Conservation