How persuasive are you?

As we seek to secure the environment that business and wider society needs, EKN Director, Bruce Howard ward, argues that there is an under-utilised way to bring about change.

Across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, we see impassioned arguments as to why the natural environment matters. Alongside this, we hear reasoning by powerful people as to why certain needs in society, such as housing and food, are in fact more important than what remains of our natural world.

Don’t get me wrong; the past decade of talk of ‘natural capital’, ‘nature-based solutions’ and the case for ‘rewilding’ has been fruitful. For example, Scotland’s natural capital is now being used as a measure if its economic performance. Likewise, the Environmental Farmers Group is harnessing the capacity of farm businesses to deliver environmental improvement at no cost to the taxpayer.

But let’s be honest. All this economic, moral and deep-earth reasoning for why the environment matters hasn’t transformed lives of most ordinary people. Homes flood. Greenspace goes. Peatland erodes. Seabed is scraped. Our islands haven’t gone up dramatically in the world’s ‘state-of-the-environment’ rankings.

All this economic, moral and deep-earth reasoning for why the environment matters hasn’t transformed the lives of most ordinary people.

So, what now for the future of making the case for ‘nature’? Would more turns of phrase, orators or Dasgupta Reviews get us the arguments that will bring about change? Can yet more floods or hosepipe bans awaken those who want to ‘build baby, build’ in lowland England? Could predictions of double-digit GDP losses due to the twin action of nature and climate change help us along? Might a few more million members in environmental campaign groups turn the tide, especially if they bring banner-waving children to march upon our capital cities?

Another way to persuade

Here at the Ecosystems Knowledge Network we believe there is a persuasive way to bring about change. It’s simple, immediate and under-utilised. It’s the reason why the Ecosystems Knowledge Network was established thirteen years ago.

Plain and simple, let’s show the people we want to influence what restoration of land, water and nature is achieving for people and businesses in particular places. Let’s go walkabout; show and tell.

Let’s go walkabout; show and tell.

Of course, this doesn't mean people have to leave the comfort of their desks, and pack their woolly jumpers for soul-searching conservation outings. We can take examples to them. But it does mean less emphasis on strategies and glossy documents that merely give general reasons why the environment matters across a whole jurisdiction or region.

Does this 'show and tell' approach sound hard? It needn’t. The good news is that our islands there are hundreds of great initiatives that show powerfully how the value of the natural environment can be harnessed for everyone’s well-being and prosperity.

Come and kick the tyres

In a very timely move, His Majesty The King took several political figures for a walk-about in Nansledan, the extension to the seaside town of Newquay. The purpose here was to see award-winning housing; to see how some of the herculean targets for new homes in England could be delivered. Arguably, this visit was so much more impactful than an impassioned speech about the importance of sustainable housing, or a research paper that showed how high-quality housing delivers better outcomes for children.

So, let’s take a leaf out of His Majesty's book when it comes to showing what a healthy environment does for people. Let’s get those we want to influence to ‘kick the tyres’ on the good stuff, talking to citizens who have benefited.

Where are these projects? The good news is that there is great work in nearly every corner of our islands. Here are some examples:

• The Mersey Forest: network of woodlands and green spaces across North Cheshire and Merseyside, having planted more than 8 million trees – equivalent to five new trees for every person living within the Forest area.
• The Tweed Forum: 30 years of managing and restoring the land and water in the catchment; enhancing habitat for wildlife including salmon and otter, improving soil and water quality, helping combat the effects of the climate and biodiversity crises, and providing tourism and recreation opportunities.
• Connswater Greenway in Belfast: Bridging communities that have suffered from division, delivering health outcomes that health economists say are cost-effective, reducing flood risk, and making a river corridor attractive for investment.

• The Seven Wetlands project near Glasgow: The Seven Lochs Wetland Park vision is of a new heritage and nature park of national significance, sustaining and enhancing a high quality, innovative wetland environment that will: ? Protect and enhance biodiversity and heritage. Promote health and well-being. Contribute to environmental, economic, and social regeneration.
• Camley Street Natural Park in London: Providing an urban oasis, a visitor attraction and jobs for local people.

Making the good discoverable

Here at Ecosystems Knowledge Network, we are here to make the good discoverable.? We are here to help you find innovative, progressive initiatives that are delivering specific outcomes for business and wider society. Want to find a urban greening scheme improving road safety? Or a forestry project in lowland England delivering carbon value? Or a green prescription scheme being used to support people's health? EKN is here to find and share them.

We are here to help you find innovative, progressive initiatives that are delivering outcomes for business and wider society.

A great starting point is to become a member.

And if you know anything that we should be shining a light on, get in touch.

Together we can be persuasive. Not simply with generic economic logic, or impassioned appeals. But by making the good discoverable.

Explore free EKN resources:

• Tool assessor
• Nature recovery project directory
• Webinar library