World Nature Conservation Day

Today is World Nature Conservation Day, an important moment to highlight the significance of preserving our planet’s precious natural resources.  

Nature underpins so much of our daily lives. From the air we breathe and the water we drink, to the beautiful landscapes across West Berkshire that support our physical and mental wellbeing, a healthy natural environment benefits us all. Yet, we're living through both a climate and biodiversity crisis. Around the world, 28% of all assessed species are threatened with extinction. In the UK, only 3% of land is effectively protected for nature.

Here in Newbury and West Berkshire, we're seeing the impact close to home through the ongoing pollution of our rivers and chalk streams and the decline of local wildlife and habitats. Protecting and restoring nature isn't just about the environment. It's about safeguarding the places we love, supporting our health and wellbeing, and leaving our communities in a better state for future generations.

Alongside my Liberal Democrat colleagues, safeguarding our chalk streams is a top priority: holding Thames Water and regulators to account, working with local groups to make practical progress on the ground, while calling out the Government as they failed to take the ambitious action our environment needs.  

The new Prime Minister has a clear choice. Alongside our calls to “double nature” by 2050,  

we won't let up in pushing for stronger protections for nature and our waterways. For communities like ours, that means cleaner rivers, healthier habitats, and a better future for the wildlife that makes West Berkshire such a special place to live. 

The case for wider action is undeniable. As wildfires continue to burn across 150,000 acres in Spain and France and experts estimate that more than 2,700 people may have died from heat-related causes in England and Wales during the recent heatwaves, we’re all experiencing more frequent extreme weather. The consequences are becoming harder to ignore, whether that's pressure on our health services, impacts on farming and food production, or damage to the natural habitats that support wildlife. This developing reality requires bold action and, as a recent Government commissioned report warned, “without major intervention,” this trend is highly likely to continue.  

Here at home, progress is being made. The West Berkshire Living Landscape and Local Nature Recovery Strategy are helping to restore habitats, support wildlife, and bring endangered species back to our local area. These initiatives show what can be achieved when communities, conservation groups, landowners, and local authorities work together. But at the national level, we still need to catch up with the pace of change. 

It's easy, and only natural, to feel overwhelmed when we see damning statistics or watch the latest events unfold on the news. But on this World Nature Conservation Day, we can all play our part. Whether it's joining one of West Berkshire's fantastic conservation groups, putting up a nest box in your garden, supporting local wildlife, or simply spending more time enjoying and valuing our beautiful countryside, it all makes a difference.

The more people who care about nature and speak up for its protection, the stronger our ability will be to safeguard it for future generations.