STOP EXTINCTION

Many of you will have seen Sir David Attenborough’s grimly heart-rending programme about the massive damage we are doing to wild species (Extinction: The Facts, BBC1, 13 September). Some complained they were left terrified and angry after watching it – and so they should be. Make no mistake: this is serious stuff, backed by science, which threatens our planet and our very existence. I and ecological scientists generally, have been batting on about this for a long time but I found it particularly galling to see the excerpts from international fora with senior politicians in denial mode. (What is wrong with these people? No need to answer that.) But emotive invective from me about that is not my text for today.

It was in Attenborough’s final message of hope where there was inspiration, that averting this catastrophe lies in the hands of every one of us. Every single person really does need to consider everything they do every day: what we buy, how we travel, what we eat, how we communicate, what we are throwing away rather than recycling and then whether all of that is sustainable ecologically – it must be a reflection of every aspect of our lives, and then action, continuously. 

At Betts, we strive to put nature first, by making biodiversity protection and enhancement a goal that transcends all else. Of course, it is not easy: there are many demands and interests in the use and purpose of greenspace and I do not pretend that we are close to achieving our goals yet: there is so much to do. Nonetheless, we are beginning to win the argument that nature can recover and thrive in our urban and semi-urban open spaces. We write and implement our Management Plans with this at the forefront of our minds and actions, and we are intensifying our biological recording so that we can better measure our progress. 

So, please, spare a thought for Sir David’s plea and what has been subtly referred to as his legacy. Species extinction is a world-wide mega-problem: we are using species and the services that ecosystems and nature deliver to us more quickly than it is possible for the bio-geo systems of our planet to regenerate, a situation which, with climate change, spells irreversible disaster if we are not very careful and wake up fast. That can only too easily seem overwhelming but remember, the solution lies with all of us doing what we can and, for our part at Betts Ecology in managing greenspaces, we must create and nurture ever-richer and more diverse habitats where heterogeneous and sustainable natural (OK, semi-natural if you like) ecosystems establish and thrive. This means valuing what some see as “untidiness” with long grass, thick bushy hedges, loads of “weeds”, plenty of dead wood, marshy areas, bramble patches and rewilding. The wealth of fascinating and beautiful species that will be part of the ecosystem recovery which will ensue, and which we are already beginning to see on the greenspaces we manage, will repay us all and help safeguard our world for future generations. 

Here are some things each of us can do, in no particular order:

• Teach children (actually, they may be teaching us) about these issues and set them a good example;
• Support teachers and educators in ecological understanding;
• Garden for wildlife (you can download our free book In Horto Feritas on our library page at https://www.bettsecology.co.uk/library-and-publications);
• Do not use environmentally toxic chemicals, herbicides or pesticides in your home or garden.
• Recycle;
• Buy only sustainable products and diligently avoid anything made from endangered species such as ivory, red coral or turtle-shell;
• Generally take care from whom you buy as some companies have a shameful environmental footprint in wastes and pollution;
• Reduce buying plastic and, where you must, ensure it is properly recycled and not added to a tip to end up fragmented in the soil or sea;
• Reduce motor vehicle use – walk or cycle whenever you can;
• Try to use less water;
• Buy locally grown organic food and eat less meat but avoid soy and palm oil that has been grown at the expense of natural forests.
• Avoid all wood products not produced sustainably;
• Join local, national and international wildlife groups and volunteer if you can;
• Keep contacting your MP and demand answers and action however frustratingly they may try to fob you off;
• Support nature conservation efforts by your local Council. 

I expect you can come up with more but I hope this sets you thinking.

 © Betts Ecology