Put British nature in the picture
Photographers are being encouraged to capture UK seasons at their best
FROM water voles to stags, delicate bluebells to majestic birds of prey, the UK’s Environmental Audit Committee is urging keen wildlife photographers in the Westcountry and beyond to submit photos that capture British nature at its best.
The winning photo will be used as the front cover of the Committee’s report to Government, due to be published in the Spring, on how to secure the health of Biodiversity and Ecosystems.
Biodiversity is continuing to decline faster now than at any time in human history, with an estimated one million animal and plant species threatened with extinction around the world. The fragile state of biodiversity has been brought into sharper focus in recent months with recent documentaries by Sir David Attenborough and fears that the UK will fail to meet biodiversity targets.
The Environmental Audit Committee says it is keen to maintain this public interest and to invite members of the public to submit their own photographs of what they feel symbolises British nature. The competition may encourage some to undertake a new photography expedition when restrictions ease over the coming months, or a submission may be a photo that has been sitting in a camera file for some time.
Environmental Audit Committee chairman, Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP, said: “We are incredibly fortunate in the UK that we have unique wildlife on our doorsteps – and it doesn’t matter where in the UK you are or what season we’re in. But our British wildlife faces a very uncertain future, with many species threatened with extinction.
“It’s not only a very sad state of affairs – some of the animals and plants that I remember seeing regularly when I was a child are now scarce – but there are severe repercussions for humans if we do not address declining biodiversity. The food we eat and the air we breathe depends on it.
“We heard during evidence sessions of the importance of healthy ecosystems, and we are in a time of reckoning where we must adapt and put nature in recovery. With the Government setting bold environmental ambitions, we are hoping our report will be very carefully considered by Ministers. Our report will be incomplete without photographs to illustrate just how wonderful British nature is.”
The competition closes on March 12, before the finalists are selected by the Committee and the winner is chosen by Mr Dunne. Runners up will have their photographs featured within the report alongside the Committee’s recommendations for how to best protect the future of biodiversity in the UK.
The launch of the competition comes ahead of the Ministerial evidence session for the Biodiversity and Ecosystems inquiry on Wednesday January 13. The EAC will be hearing from Environment Secretary George Eustice, MP for Camborne and Redruth, as well as Defra Minister Zac Goldsmith. The evidence session offers the opportunity for the Committee to put some of the key findings during the inquiry to Government ahead of the report.
Photographers must follow current Covid-19 guidelines and hold the copyright. To enter, between 5th January and 12th March 2021 post your photo on Twitter, tagging #EACBiodiversity so that the committee can see your submissions, or email it to eacom@parliament.uk
‘Photographs can illustrate just how wonderful nature is’ PHILIP DUNNE, MP