Five people from across Northern Ireland have added their voices to a UK-wide call for “no more harm to nature”.
Decades of damage have pushed wildlife and habitats to the brink, with 38m birds vanishing from our skies since the 1950s and 97% of wildflower meadows lost since WW2.
Experts also believe just 5% of all UK land has been protected for nature.
Read more: NI charities rally behind David Attenborough's call to 'save our wild isles'
By now the 100-strong citizens assembly have come up with a ‘People’s Plan for Nature’ which will now be delivered to leaders.
Claire from Downpatrick said: “I’m not into nature for nature’s sake. I’m a doctor. I care about people. And the scientific information and the courses that I’ve done have shown me how important nature is for people’s health.
“I’d like to see nature improved so that it would improve our lives.”
Assembly requests include:
● All commercial and policy decisions to account for potential nature impacts
● An overhaul of farming subsidies to prioritise sustainable and nature-friendly farming
● Greater government accountability through a permanent Assembly for Nature made up of NGOs, industry and public expertise
● Access to nature to be recognised as a human right
● A universal quality standard label in supermarkets showing the source and nature impact of products to help consumers make nature-friendly choices
● Urgent restoration of all rivers and wetlands, investment in wastewater infrastructure and establishment of Marine National Parks
● Cross-party commitment to future farming practices that help nature, and incentives for farmers to farm sustainably and help them through this transition
● A national conversation on how and why we should change our diet to support nature, and food hubs to help people access local produce
The process also included 30,000 contributions from the public and marks a step-change.
Professor Nathalie Seddon of the University of Oxford, one of the assembly’s academic leads, said: “ The People’s Plan for Nature is a roadmap to help us get from where we are now, living in a highly degraded nature-depleted country, to where we need to be, empowered and living as part of flourishing landscapes, seascapes and cities, healthier, happier and re-connected with nature.
“I was impressed by the rigour of the process, the spirit of collaboration and openness among a very diverse group of Assembly members, and the quality of their discussions and questions. I think that the Assembly has come up with a really compelling set of critical actions to restore the vitality of our environment.
“The experience left me feeling hopeful for the future of UK nature as well as for nature in general; there’s a good chance that if we get things right here, other places will be inspired to do the same.”
Sarah Castell, Chief Executive Officer of Involve, added: "The People's Plan for Nature shows how the public can take a lead in tackling the big challenges of our time. A modern, healthy democracy needs to place people at the heart of decisions about our future. Involve are proud to have supported people from all four nations of the UK to find a way to protect and restore nature; those in power should listen to their recommendations and take action."
The assembly is encouraging people to read the People’s Plan for Nature in full at peoplesplanfornature.org and to add their voice in support of the plan.
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