Henry Thompson

How often we think about the links between crime, environment & #wildlife in the UK context? Having attended a training day for Wildlife and Rural Crime Officers and colleagues supporting them, my takeaway is the need to talk about it more ⬇️ 💡It felt surreal listening to a police officer talk about CITES* legislation which I last explored some 15 years ago as a student, and the group chiming in with local examples of illegal trade of endangered specimens. 💰A prominent issue in the UK: NPCC** estimate that wildlife crime costs £17bn a year & is often used to fund serious and organised crime (Source: https://lnkd.in/eN-3F3EP) 🦊That said, wildlife crime is underreported and not widely recognised as such, despite popular nature documentaries exploring this topic. 🪸The pressure is growing: the ’Wild Isles’ documentary illustrated that Britain is now one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world & WWF have reported “a catastrophic decline” of 73% of the global wildlife populations in the last 50 years. This is only one of many examples of environmental impacts on policing & how the police can protect the environment. We’ve explored more ways we interact with the environment, the society & the economy in our Sustainability Strategy: https://lnkd.in/ePG7nZpm *Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora **National Police Chiefs Council

3

Seabird monitoring programme report out today by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and JNCC in association with RSPB. This further highlights the declines shown through the Seabirds Count survey which showed a 62% decline across UK species and 70% decline in our Scottish strongholds. Whilst seabird conservation strategies are slowly emerging across the UK counties we need their measures to be delivered at a much swifter pace. Alongside a wider package of resilience building measures in the marine environment. If seabirds aren't doing well, neither is the rest of the system....but we know the marine environment has huge potential for regeneration if we invest in it.

19

This report sets out what is so special and distinctive about the cultural history and ecology of our Celtic temperate rainforest, and what it needs if it is to endure - recognition and valuing of its significance, and investment in the traditional landuse practices, including light grazing,  that sustain it and provide for its protective management. 

5

In the next Senedd elections we will easily see 15 plus Reform Members of the Senedd - why? ✅ Please complete the Welsh government Questionnaire: https://lnkd.in/eunxHVXv If we are not demanding anything less than meaningful climate change participation and awareness raising, and the deliberative democracy procedures and strategical comms to reach the public in a meaningful way, we are part of the nature, climate crisis problem - there has to be a collective strategy across the 3rd sector in partnership with a National Climate Assembly willing political parties. Urgent Systems Change is required - Wellbeing Economy Cymru (WE Cymru) delivered These were my further comments about public engagement on climate change: "We are in a situation where billionaire owned or compromised media channels are controlling the climate narratives - this has long been the case, but it has now reached a critical point where mis or disinformation and climate denial and polarisation is rife. Governments have perpetuated enforced austerity, the popular narrative is 'we can not afford climate action, mitigation, or adaptation' - when we can not afford not to. The importance of participatory, deliberative democracy, or impactful public awareness raising - the storytelling of climate change, action against in-action Climate Cymru - Sam Ward has not been strategically co ordinated. It is too low down on cash struck local authorities lists of importance, and of our governments. Our leaders or political candidates do not perceive the just green transition as being electable, to be able to ensure it's imbedded in their manifestos, or in their policies and actions. All is still dictated by our continued support for failed economic growth, that only perpetuates, accelerates wealth disparity and climate and nature's breakdown. I campaigned with Extinction Rebellion Cymru for Citizens Assemblies nearly five years ago - they and citizens juries, and participatory budgeting are desperately needed at a local authority and national levels. Wales has the systems change required as an ACT - the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act - The Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, but it sits in a sector silo and does not work well enough or reach, or resonate with the public. It has no teeth, accountability attached to its delivery. You maybe aware of this Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government "Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales: final report- Chapter 8: conclusions and recommendations: Final report of the commission detailing options to strengthen Welsh democracy and deliver improvements for the people of Wales." https://lnkd.in/euVJGbn6 - is this questionnaire acting on its recommendations, I hope so."

10

2 Comments

A report recently published by Bond UK calls for a shift away from INGOs' Eurocentric approaches, which often reinforce neo-imperialist structures that keep communities in the Global South underdeveloped. WRC has long advocated for investment in local women’s organisations across the UK, while confronting similar issues of the industrialisation of our sector. We recognise that poverty and inequality cannot be effectively addressed by systems that fail to redistribute power and resources. Read our full response and join the conversation on how we can drive real, transformative change to end oppression: https://lnkd.in/eiGXKYMH

3

Strongly support this (please check the comment section for interesting and useful insights)

1

🗞️ Check out our latest newsletter, featuring the launch of new proposals to improve mobilisation transparency, reflections on how we encourage greater publishing of aid data, & some highlights of how aid data is currently used in practice: https://lnkd.in/dtCzaYFc #AidTransparency #GlobalDev

8

Hot planning news - the government is overhauling planning rules to pave the way for new homes. We need to make sure this doesn't mean even more intensive livestock units, which is a big risk. More here - you can sign up to the planning newsletter by planning OG Gillian Morgan and we'll send some examples of how to answer the consultation questions https://lnkd.in/eWuyz4x4

6

You'll wonder why the likes of Reform platformed by the BBC, will gain significant seats in #Wales & upland farmers are resentful about planting trees for CCC recommendations for net zero? We need systems change from traditional politics, its been rapidly failing us - and our Future Generations. "Labour Donors Lobbied the New Government on Behalf of Fossil Fuel Giants Major oil and gas firms are being represented by lobbyists that have given more than £300,000 in support to Keir Starmer’s party." https://lnkd.in/ebwHUcDK #FossilFuels #Politics #ClimateAction #WellbeingEconomy

2

As part of #BetterTransportWeek, I wrote a blog piece on how #RuralTransport needs transforming to serve rural dwellers, help the local economy and aid in the move toward Net-Zero

21

1 Comment

A few months ago, I came across and joined the 🍃 Civil Service Climate + Environment Network 🍃 impressed by the events, tools and learning resources I decided to sign up to be a Departmental Champion (DC) for Ofgem. So far, we have had 2 meeting, and they have been a great opportunity to find out what the committee is discussing and allows a space for us as DCs to feed into the committee’s agenda. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗦𝗖𝗘𝗡 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹. 𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬: 𝘈 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘸𝘦, 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘌𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘧𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥. 25 September, 13:00 – 14:00. Microsoft Teams. 𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴: 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩? 𝘈 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦. 25 September, 15:00 – 16:00. Microsoft Teams. 𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘬: 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘓𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭 27 September, 12:30 – 13:30. Microsoft Teams. A lot of the past events are also on the website so check them out too 😀 If you are a part of the Civil Service and would like to find out more, please see https://lnkd.in/e2FJ3Hh2 and if you are not already, make sure to sign up! Any questions on CSCEN please do let me know.

6

I wrote a short piece about how we need to embed resilience into how we approach land use decisions, how diversity and multifunctionality can support this, and how its the *process* of making these decisions that will make them work. All of these, of course, are part of an effective #LandUseFramework. If we are serious about tackling our housing and health crises, supporting climate and nature targets, producing good food and renewable energy, we need to be taking a resilience approach.

35

1 Comment

Why should we bother working in Places? Our latest blog on Local Access explains why we care about building social economy and shifting power starting with People and Places https://lnkd.in/eyMhcv9P

75

4 Comments

The VAWG sector have come together to make an urgent plea to the new government through Karma Nirvana's ‘HBA’ General Election manifesto. This manifesto calls for a comprehensive approach to tackle HBA, focusing on three key areas: a statutory definition and guidance, ring fenced funding for HBA specialist services, and stronger governmental accountability. #WeekOfMemory #WeRemember Please watch the full video below https://lnkd.in/eAb9UyYy

1

Yes we are high on ambition, great on words, but where is the wealth redistribution to pay for it, is it coming from Westminster? If not are we going to get inventive enough with blended public and private finance to bring 90% of Wales’s agricultural landmass with us to deliver much of the below within the Sustainable Farming Scheme. We need community tree nurseries, localised seeds collections, growing, community planting assisting farmers, agroforestry design and advice, a new interconnected freshwater forest from mountains to coast, intercepting waters wherever it gathers, community orchards with storage and processing attached, and stacked enterprises - land sharing, horticulture ramp up, and 20 minute neighbourhoods that keep all of this agroecological added value close. Are we thinking whole systems wellbeing economy, community climate resilience?

2

1 Comment

I will be speaking at the climate café about the work we have been doing in the Leven catchment. Come along if you are interested to learn more about our catchment-scale approach!

5

‘An intergenerational crime against humanity’: what will it take for political leaders to start taking climate change seriously? https://lnkd.in/eiy7Rk37 It will take the public rapidly becoming all to aware of the societal and environmental abuse that they have historically voted for. For society to vote out planet busting Growth Economics and vote in Wellbeing Economics - there is only one plausible chance for a positive future, wholesale economic systems change, now. #WellbeingEconomy “Even if nations make good on their net zero promises – which is a big “if” because right now many nations’ pledges have no finance, weak implementation or limited political ambition, so are effectively empty promises – there is a 90% chance that we are still on track for 2.4°C of global warming under this best-case scenario, which will lock in centuries of irreversible changes to the climate system.” “People in decades to come will look back at the world’s collective failure to shut down the fossil fuel industry in time and see it for what it really is: an intergenerational crime against humanity.” - and we kept voting for it. #ClimateAction

2

🌳 Empowering Voices for Woods and Trees: Campaigning During a General Election 🌳 In the run up to the General Election, The Woodland Trust has taken a proactive approach to enable supporters and the public to ask their candidates to champion woods and trees. Why? Some of the UK's most magnificent trees are hundreds, if not thousands, of years old. The decisions made about woods and trees over the next 5 years will have impacts lasting for generations. Amid the nature and climate crises , trees - vital for biodiversity, climate regulation, and community wellbeing - should be regarded as critical infrastructure. How are we making a difference? Supporter Action - We've created an easy-to-use template email for supporters to send to their candidates via our action. You can take action here: https://lnkd.in/gWKCFSGW Printable Resources - Our dedicated team has designed posters supporting woods and trees, featuring a QR code linking to our supporter action. We've also provided sample questions with draft answers to help evaluate candidates' responses. Restore Nature Now - We joined tens of thousands of passionate advocates demanding urgent action for nature restoration. It was an inspiring day, perfectly timed to amplify our message before the election. Acknowledgements A huge thank you to our External Affairs team for their tireless work leading up to the General Election and coming up. Their efforts are crucial in advocating for the protection and restoration of our woodlands. A special shoutout to our Content and Comms teams, whose creativity and dedication have made our resources look gorgeous and engaging. There's still time! Every voice counts. Get involved by contacting your local candidates. Together, we can make a real difference for nature. 🍃✨ (Photo: The Woodland Trust election poster, modelled beautifully next to the Baa Baa Men.)

18