GRETA SANTAGATA
Environmental activist and filmmaker
In 2018 I teamed up with Chris Packham, Robert MacFarlane and Patrick Barkham to research, fact-check, reference and compile the appendix for the People's Manifesto for Wildlife: a concise, accessible and visually beautiful collection of essays and proposals on how to improve the state of Nature in the UK. Independent, apolitical, informative, hopeful and packed with practical suggestions for current and future policy makers on themes such as: biodiversity decline, pesticide use, wildlife crime, nature education and many more.
“Between 1970 and 2013, 56% of UK species declined... of the nearly 8,000 species assessed using modern criteria, 15% are threatened with extinction... this suggests that we are among the most nature-depleted countries in the world.”
“Of the 218 countries assessed for ‘biodiversity intactness’, the UK is ranked 189, a consequence of centuries of industrialisation, urbanisation and overexploitation of our natural resources”.
THIS MANIFESTO
Was conceived to publish a set of informed ideas from a parliament of strong, independent voices. Ideas which, if implemented today, would make a huge difference for wildlife tomorrow.
Presents a series of essays by 18 Ministers highlighting some of the most critical concerns affecting the UK landscape and its species, each accompanied by ten commandments – ‘no-brainer’ solutions to the problems.
Has been written to be accessible to everyone with an interest in the health of our countryside and a respect for the species that live there. It is not a dull, dry report – please read it yourselves! Don’t just read what someone else says about it.
Has a sister in the form of a free-to-download, fully referenced document. What you read here is supported by rigorous research and science.
Is deliberately incomplete. It covers issues which specifically apply to wildlife and its conservation – somewhat artificial given that many wider environmental factors exert enormous pressures upon both. There are also obvious ‘missing ministries’ . . . it is presented as a first draft, in hope and expectation of response.
Is yours. It is freely open to future contributions – we urgently need more ideas, discussion and debate to move conservation in the UK forward and cease the war on wildlife. Please distribute and please contribute.
Click on any of the coloured images for the illustrated version. For the extended version, with appendix and reference list, follow this link