ECOS 45 (4) – Grass roots action meets high-level nature policy

UCL Nature & Conservation Society conference supported by ECOS

JANET MACKINNON

Following a five year interval, ECOS reconvened with University College London’s Nature and Conservation Society for another mini conference in February 2024 entitled: ‘Fixing the ecological crisis: from ground level to the government.’ Conservation students, led by Ben Leo Hollis, did some excellent work in bringing together an outstanding group of speakers for this event which Simon Leadbeater and Janet Mackinnon attended on behalf BANC. Whilst the platform reflected a more diverse and international community than in 2019, the mini conference also covered perennial challenges for the conservation movement, not least relationships between people and non-human nature. Its central themes –  bottom-up and top-down perspectives on the natural environment, and the need for joined-up policy making and practical interventions – are key themes that ECOS contributors have tackled since our first edition in 1980. The journal’s present custodians therefore very much welcomed a new opportunity for ‘challenging conservation.’

The event brought together speakers with cross-cutting backgrounds in practical fieldwork and wildlife management, research, academia and journalism, corporate partnerships and campaigning. After a brief introduction from Ben Hollis, the proceedings began very much on ‘ground level’ with Jo Maddox of London-based Heath Hands. She was followed by academic researcher Dr Rafael Chiaravalloti from UCL and investigative journalist Aimee Gabay of Mongabay, both of whom shared their respective field experience from Latin America. UCL Emeritus Professor Peter Jones then provided a comprehensive overview of key environmental governance issues, covering both terrestrial and marine contexts. Peter was followed by Swati Mandloi of WWF UK who focussed on bringing together stakeholders from climate and nature programmes, referencing her work in India and Southeast Asia. The key note and final speaker was Craig Bennett of The Wildlife Trusts, who shared his personal experience of working in UK and international conservation and environmental movements from the 1990s to the present. Speakers’ presentations are summarised below together with responses to questions from the audience. Ben asked each panel member to describe how they came to work in conservation and their career development.

Conservation and community on Hampstead Heath

Jo Maddox, Project Officer at Heath Hands

Whilst working as a journalist (her profession for some 20 years), Jo undertook a BSc in Biodiversity and Conservation at Birkbeck University, and started her career with Heath Hands as volunteer, later becoming a ranger. Heath Hands is a conservation and community charity covering Hampstead Heath and nearby green spaces such as Highgate Wood, in total some 350 hectares of North London. A partnership between the City of London Corporation and English Heritage, the organisation involves thousands of people through various programmes every year. The charity’s conservation work includes habitat protection and creation, wildlife monitoring, promoting connectivity with other green spaces and over 1000 volunteers. As an example of their bottom-up approach, Jo cited the ‘Hedgehog-friendly Heath’ project which raises public awareness about one of the largest hedgehog populations in London. Other Heath Hands programmes include: community work supporting inclusivity and the involvement of young people; education partnerships with schools and universities, as well as support for practical learning and skills development; health and wellbeing initiatives such as walking, mindfulness and forest bathing in collaboration with the NHS.

Bottom-up conservation in Brazil

Dr Rafael Chiaravalloti, Department of Anthropology, UCL

Rafael began his career monitoring wildlife, particularly jaguars, in Brazil’s transboundary Patanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland extending to Bolivia and Paraguay. His work focussed on designated National Parks and nature reserves from which some local people were forcibly displaced. Their fate led Rafael to shift research focus to the relationship between conservation and people, including the role of traditional knowledge. His career has taken Rafael from rural Brazil to the Department of Anthropology at UCL where he undertook a PhD on Local Communities and the Patanal Wetland, Brazil funded by the Brazil National Science Foundation. An important concern of his academic work is the misuse of narrowly defined concepts of indigeneity, and he maintains that categorisations such as ‘rural poor’ have been used by conservationists and other stakeholders in the environment to oppress certain groups in Brazil and elsewhere. The direction of his work has put Rafael himself in conflict with former colleagues who ask: “Which side of conservation are you”? To this question he replies: “Science of the local people.” Relocation to a major London research institution has enabled Rafael to develop the policy (or top down) implications of his community-based research, leading to work on issues such as property rights and the sustainable use of protected areas, for which he gave fishing as an example.  

‘News and Inspiration from Nature’s Frontline’

Aimee Gabay, Reporter at Mongabay

A recent graduate of UCL’s Conservation MSc, Aimee followed her studies with freelance journalism for news organisations such as The Guardian, Aljazeera and Grist before joining the web magazine Mongabay in 2023. Her particular interests are the environmental impact of extractive industries and bottom-up solutions to communities addressing “the climate crisis”. She has reported extensively from Ecuador where oil drilling threatens indigenous territories and protected areas. Aimee described Mongabay’s approach to coverage of ‘News and Inspiration from Nature’s Frontline’. Access to the site is free and information provided in different languages and formats to encourage knowledge sharing and transparency. Mongabay brings together science and traditional knowledge, and fosters practical journalism that can mobilise the site’s diverse audience, plus the wider global community. Aimee went on to describe the function of Mongabay’s Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) news desk. It promotes the voices of IPLCs as sources of conservation perspectives and solutions. Analysis is provided of trends and issues for IPLCs, and under-reported grass-roots initiatives are highlighted for policy makers. Aimee cited examples of sustainable livelihood and environmental management plans for protected areas.

Questions and answers session on ‘ground level’ conservation

Ben invited questions on bottom-up approaches to conservation which generated some thought-provoking exchanges on the relationships between people and nature conservation. Simon Leadbeater suggested a non-anthropocentric worldview is needed, whereby land belongs equally to non-human beings, to enable transformation of relationships with nature. He used the example of jaguars in the Patanal, to which Rafael responded that ‘protection of cosmology’ should be reflected in conservation given, in this case, the big cat’s key role in pre-colonial Latin American culture as represented in ‘jaguar people’ (supernatural beings). In reply to another question, loss of traditional knowledge was given as a concern in Ecuador leading to over-hunting of wild animals. This could be addressed through development of sustainable livelihoods for indigenous peoples which recognised their provision of ecosystem services, Aimee recommended. However, potential conflicts between traditional and sustainable livelihoods were acknowledged, requiring partnership between communities and conservationists based on successful management case studies: once again fishing was mentioned. Notwithstanding a vastly different context, the subject of human-nature interactions is just as relevant to North London. Here, people often did not fully understand why Hampstead Heath is managed to conserve grassland habitats (home to 39 grass snakes). Jo also pointed out that irresponsible dog owners and the use of ever-stronger chemical flea-treatments pose growing threats to wildlife, especially aquatic. The London Natural History Society is collaborating with Heath Hands to better understand this problem and possible responses.

Governing protected areas: resilience through diversity

Dr Peter Jones, UCL Emeritus Professor of Environmental Governance

After describing a professional ‘metamorphosis’ from conservation biology to anthropology and governance, Peter highlighted Target 3 of the 2022 Global Biodiversity Framework which specifies that by 2030 30% of terrestrial, inland waterways, coastal and marine areas are “effectively conserved” and “equitably governed.” He then briefly defined what is meant by environmental governance: a concept encompassing both top-down and bottom-up approaches through mechanisms like state control, regulation and the rule of law, combined with economic instruments, as well as the participation and empowerment of local people. Peter used case studies of Marine Protected Areas in 24 countries to illustrate the concept, developed through his academic work as a process of ‘coevolutionary governance.’ This definition accepts some degree and form of state co-ordination but also decentralisation. He then reflected on challenges associated with both centralised and local governance regimes, together with how these could be more effectively mitigated. Recommending that the state must sometimes provide an indirect steer, Peter suggested this approach could balance ‘the risks of imposition’ with ‘the risks of localism.’ Finally, he offered a ‘synecology perspective on protected areas as co-evolutionary governance’ which integrates top-down, market-based and bottom-up approaches through case-specific incentives for conservation.

Partnerships for Climate

Swati Mandloi, Senior Partnerships Manager, WWF UK

With a background in economics and an Indian technology start up, Swati joined WWF some ten years ago and worked in Singapore before moving to the UK. A key focus of her work has been corporate partnerships, most recently with the British multinational insurance company Aviva. Swati reminded the conference that traditional economic thinking has contributed to the ecological crisis so systemic transformation, including technological innovation, is vital. She emphasised interactions between climate change, nature and people as well as the need to mobilise a wide range of stakeholders; notably central and local governments, academic institutions, civil society and the private sector. WWF has played a leading role for many years in promoting corporate sustainability agendas, and Swati outlined ‘the seven actions that are required from a corporate climate leader,’ including support for ‘nature-based solutions across the value chain.’ She highlighted the role of sustainable finance initiatives in helping create more climate resilient communities and referred to the UN’s theory of change model. Successful partnerships with commercial organisations require measurable impacts, project management and accountability.

Reflections on a career in conservation

Craig Bennett, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts

A proposed Universal Studios theme park for the wildlife haven of Rainham Marches in Essex in the late 1980s provided Craig with early motivation to become an environmental campaigner. Although this proposal was abandoned, it taught the young activist that not everyone supports conservation before development. He went on to study geography at Reading University, followed by UCL’s Conservation MSc. The latter involved a group project in Guernsey with the aim of producing a biodiversity strategy for the (Channel) island, but this failed to engage the local community. Similarly, a research trip to Mongolia revealed that many people living within a newly designated National Park were unaware of its existence. Craig went on to have a high-profile career with organisations including the Environmental Investigation Agency, Friends of the Earth, the Prince of Wales Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change, and latterly The Wildlife Trusts (one of the world’s largest conservation organisations). This work led to a number of significant international and national campaigning successes, based on mobilising both top down and bottom-up support. He gave the example of FOE International, the world’s largest grassroots environmental group, in drawing attention to major problems associated with the oil giant Shell in developing countries. However, Craig also recognised the achievements of progressive companies on climate issues, notwithstanding some corporate greenwashing. Similarly, he emphasised government policies for nature must be accompanied by resources, implementation and enforcement capacity to reverse species and habitat loss. His reflections underlined the need to communicate effectively with different stakeholders, including marginalised groups.

Closing questions and answers on top-down conservation

Once again, Ben invited questions for the panel and interest was expressed in due diligence for NGOS involved in partnerships with commercial organisations to avert greenwashing. Swati and Craig discussed the different approaches environmental groups have to this issue using WWF and Greenpeace as examples, arguing that, overall, there is strength in diversity. ‘Sincerity of engagement’ is required from companies and there is a need for clear understanding of ‘differences in power’ between partners. Moving on to relationships with government, Craig stressed the importance of not confusing access with influence, and the ability to distinguish between genuine initiatives and mainly headline seeking ones where ‘nothing really happens,’ such as Boris Johnson’s ‘Build Back Beaver’ soundbite in 2021. The discussion then turned to the environmental impacts of Brexit, a challenge taken on by Peter and Craig. As someone who at the time anticipated ‘no green benefit’ from Brexit, Peter now accepted there had been some positive consequences, singling out establishment of the Office for Environmental Protection and the creation of new Off-Shore Marine Protected Areas  by the UK government. Craig was less sanguine, reminding the audience that environmental issues do not recognise national borders and the OEP has less power to hold the government to account than the European Commission. He concluded that UK policy lacks progress on product standards as well as the vision of the EU’s Nature Restoration Directive.

After what could only be described as an extremely full-on mini conference, participants retired for refreshments, and conversations started in UCL’s Gustave Tuck lecture theatre inevitably continued. It became increasingly apparent during the evening that international comparisons and perspectives from beyond Europe are challenging conservation principles, policies and practices operating within UK terrestrial and marine environments in ways unimaginable 45 – and perhaps even 5 – years ago. There are vital lessons for the UK and its Overseas Territories (which ECOS revisited last year) in the experience of other maritime nations, many of which share key historical and modern connections. Case studies of nature-based solutions to climate change offer some good examples. However, whilst ‘thinking globally’ this was also very much a forum concerned with ‘acting locally’ with the clear aim of ‘fixing the ecological crisis from ground level to the government’ whether in London or Latin America. An earlier question to the panel about the relative merits of former Brazilian president Bolsonaro and present incumbent Lula da Silva was too a timely reminder of a contemporary global era defined by ever-more challenging political ecology.