Sunak missed chance to create force for nature

THE Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is focusing on rebooting the economy following the damage caused to it by Covid-19.

He has announced new initiatives, including for the arts and for dealing with climate change.

His recent statement heralded help for property owners, a boost for the ‘green’ economy, cuts in VAT, and huge investment to support employment for those eligible for Universal

Credit. But he missed an opportunity though to directly help the beleaguered nature conservation sector and strengthen its infrastructure. He might have reflected that we have successfully been here before. To combat the mass unemployment of the 1980s the then Government created the Manpower Services Commission.

Its job was to find and fund employment and employers for thousands of people.

This opportunity was eagerly seized upon by charities such as the Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB. They had many roles to be filled, especially in professions such as education, planning, ecology, landscaping, and community engagement.

As a result the sector grew very rapidly. The employment schemes paid people’s wages for six or 12 months, longer in the case of senior staff. This was a step change – organisations went from one or two staff to, in some cases, dozens.

At the peak of the schemes the Wildlife Trust in Birmingham and the Black Country had more than 100 people working in all areas of nature conservation.

The legacy of that time lives on. Ecological surveys done then still provide the basis for some work now. What were set up as temporary projects survived and continue to deliver results. Some of the people first employed in the schemes have become respected experts in the field, and now hold senior positions in charities, local authorities and public bodies.

Craig Bennett, the Wildlife Trusts’ chief executive, said: “The Government has announced billions for road building projects and just

£40 million for nature. This is hugely disappointing. Serious investment in nature could provide a green recovery while simultaneously providing many more jobs. Specific reference has been made to building fast and removing wildlife that presents an obstacle. The Wildlife Trusts are extremely concerned that this would jeopardise species such as dolphins, bats and newts and the abundance of our wildlife that is already deeply depleted.”

How much better would it be to create a force for nature rather than perpetuate the old myths and prejudices that work against it?

Peter Shirley is a West Midlandsbased conservationist