The Wildlife Trusts seek business support
Launch of £30 million appeal to kickstart nature’s recovery across 30% of land and sea by 2030
TODAY, The Wildlife Trusts launch ‘30 by 30’, a public appeal to raise £30 million to start putting nature into recovery across at least 30% of land and sea by 2030. The Wildlife Trusts – a federation of 46 grassroots charities – believe that restoring nature is vital for both people and industry, and that investing in healthy, functioning ecosystems is essential for tackling climate change and the resilience of the UK economy.
September 2020 marks the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and The Wildlife Trusts are uniquely placed to help businesses working towards sustainability goals for responsible consumption and production, life on land, life below the water, sustainable communities, and climate action.
Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: ‘We’ve set ourselves an ambitious goal – to raise £30 million and kickstart the process of securing at least 30% of land and sea in nature’s recovery by 2030. We will buy land to expand and join up our nature reserves; we’ll work with others to show how to bring wildlife back to their land; and we’re calling for nature’s recovery through a new package of policy measures including big new ideas like Wildbelt.
‘The next 10 years must be a time of renewal, of rewilding our lives, of green recovery. We all need nature more than ever and when we succeed in reaching 30 by 30, we’ll have wilder landscapes that store carbon and provide on-your-doorstep nature for people too. Everyone can support and help us to succeed.’
The Wildlife Trusts have a long history of working with businesses to improve places for nature. For example, during a 13-year partnership with The Wildlife Trusts, Aggregate Industries have managed their landholding to benefit wildlife and have more than 4,000ha reaching Biodiversity Benchmark standard. Many precious nature reserves, such as Ripon City Wetlands in North Yorkshire, have been created by the company for local wildlife and for people to enjoy and care for.
Working with The Wildlife Trusts is an opportunity to leave a valuable business legacy, to help mitigate environmental impacts, meet sustainability goals and work towards a greener future for all. Funds raised by The Wildlife Trusts’ new 30 by 30 appeal will go towards projects ranging from land acquisition to peatland repair and species reintroduction. For more information, visit: www.wildlifetrusts.org/about-us/partnerships/working-businesses
