Today I am declaring a Nature Emergency.
More than 1 in 10 of over 8,000 species are at risk of extinction – with 1 in 4 UK mammal species at threat of being lost.
The planet is experiencing the 6th mass extinction of species. Globally, populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles have fallen by more than two-thirds in less than 50 years.
Nature is being destroyed by humans at a rate never seen before, and this catastrophic decline is showing no signs of slowing. Intensive agriculture, deforestation and the conversion of wild spaces into farmland are among the main causes of nature loss, while over-fishing is wreaking havoc with marine life.
Here in Sheffield the Council continue to destroy wildflowers with dangerous Glyphosate which harms our bees and insects. Pollinators are vital for our survival but we continue to poison them.
Things have got to change, and the change starts here. I am declaring a Nature Emergency and I want you to do the same. Then persuade any groups you belong to, perhaps a community group, a church, mosque or temple to do the same. Write to your Councillor and your MP demanding the Council and Government follow suit.
Remember the native American saying. “Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children”.
Photo credits on video (from Wildlife Trust)
Bumblebee ©Richard Burkmar;
Barn owls ©Russell Savory;
Otter ©Elliot Smith
Hedgehogs – Jon Hawkins/Surrey Hills Photography
White letter hairstreak – Ben Keywood
Curlew – Richard Steel/2020Vision
Tell the Truth Sheffield 
This issue is as important, if not more urgent, than the climate emergency. Both should be treated as more of a long term threat than Covid and governments globally must co-operate without further prevarication if we are to bequeath a habitable planet for future generations. Act now! We are running out of time?
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