National Emergency Briefing: Nature

Presentation by Professor Nathalie Seddon

Professor Seddon stresses that Nature should not be on the fringes of policy. It should underpin economic security, climate resilience, public heath and food production. It is a critical part of our national infrastructure and because the climate is changing and the living systems that protect and feed people are breaking down we face an emergency on a number of fronts.

Here in the UK we are one of the most nature depleted countries in the world, lying in the bottom 10%. There is decline in our wildlife and only a small number of our rivers are unpolluted. Our peatlands which can store considerable CO2 are now emitting millions of tones of CO2. There are increasing wildfire risks and a rising number of damaging floods. Only 7% of our woodlands are healthy and only 2.8% of land is protected for nature

We are largely failing to meet the targets set under the 2021 Environment Act.

Critical is the loss of key functions that nature provides. The decline in pollinators means that our food system is threatened. The use of pesticide, chemical fertilisers and herbicides is damaging to the soil which leads to its degradation and reduction in food production.

Solutions Professor Seddon suggest involve investing in the restoration of nature, including the creation of wetlands and peatlands, planting more trees and hedges and practising regenerative farming, together with a reduction in animal farming.

She also draws attention to the benefit to mental health that people experience in contact with the natural world, which also contributes to the healthy development of children.

In summary we think ourselves to be separate from nature which we can exploit, rather than being a part of nature. To care for nature is to care for ourselves.

Nathalie Seddon is Professor of Biodiversity and Founding Director of the Nature-based Solutions Initiative in the Departments of Biology and Geography (Smith School for Enterprise and the Environment) at the University of Oxford. Director of the Agile Initiative, member of the leadership team of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, and is a Senior Research Fellow at Wadham College. Non-executive Director and co-founder of the Oxford University Social Venture, Nature-based Insights Ltd.

Prof Seddon advises governments and the private sector on nature-based solutions to ensure their implementation supports biodiversity and enhances wellbeing; is a member of the Adaptation Committee of the UK Climate Change Committee, leading on nature; sits on the Science & Knowledge Committee of the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions; and is a Trustee of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance.