Making nature finance work for rural communities: Understanding rural community
Nature Finance Learning Group (EKN)
The leading forum to catalyse finance & investment in the UK's natural environment
In this second of our blog series, we consider the different dimensions of community when understanding its relationship with nature finance. Read part one here, exploring why the relationship between nature finance and rural communities in the UK is attracting attention.
When we consider the relationship between nature finance and rural communities, the first thing is to comprehend the diversity of people under consideration. Community is about connection. This includes the social connections between the people in any one locality, the connections between places shaped by people, and cultural connections created through a shared sense of belonging. In terms of the groups which make up a so-called rural community, these will vary greatly around the islands of the UK. Of course, there are then those who are ‘hands on’ in managing land; owners, tenants, crofters, labourers and contractors. Many of these are at the centre of rural life. Their businesses are diversified, integrating food production with things like tourism and forestry. The latter is particularly important when earnings from food and government funding doesn’t pay the bills.
In many parts of the UK, there are some particular types of community, such as crofters and those who use common land. There are then those who experience rural places more indirectly. This includes those who live in rural settings but don’t have a business relationship with the land. The levels of connection with the land will vary – from being in amongst land managers to simply having a view of a landscape or ready access to it in order to walk the dog or ride the horse. Many with property in a rural community may also spend only part of their time there.
In short, rural community is not one thing. It is often in a state of change, responding to new government schemes and the pressures that come from feelings that there are either too few or too many people. It is a complex web of relationships between people with different priorities and interests. The sense of common purpose and identity can be very strong and delineated, as such in the case of many island communities. In other cases, it is much more open-ended.
Community is a dynamic web of relationships, not a defined number of people who can be counted as ‘in’ or ‘out’. When any new source of money arises for land management, change will occur. This includes changes in the ownership, occupation or use of land. New money might change a community’s sense of belonging for better or worse. It may increase or decrease their sense of inclusion. New sources of money can result in a change of ownership, including businesses (remember Brewdog) and wealthy individuals. New networks could form, including farm clusters that combine their service provision into something larger. Newcomers may come with very good intentions, using their skills and influence for the betterment of others not themselves.
If any initiative driving nature finance wants to understand a rural community, the best starting point is to be present in the community. They need to take the time to understand what is already happening. If you are the ‘outsider’ be clear on who you are but hold back on floating ideas or grand plans; challenges arise when anyone enters with a set idea of what should happen. Whilst a deep detailed understanding of the community may not be achievable in the project’s timeframe it can be possible to gain some understanding of the pre-existing context through engaging with parish councils, NGOs and community groups that already exist. Of course, not all groups within rural communities reflect the full diversity of everyone who could be involved or will be involved in the future. Third sector organisations often have good intent, but don’t necessarily hold the moral high ground in terms of how land should be used. Understanding the community allows for dialogue around the changing landscape. It’s about evolving the conversation of land, what it’s for, what it means and who benefits from it. There’s an opportunity as we see these changes to bring those not traditionally part of the conversation into it.
领英推荐
This blog is informed by discussions in a webinar delivered by Chris Short Associate Professor in Environmental Governance at University of Gloucestershire , James Elliott, Senior policy adviser at Green Alliance , Tanzir Chowdhury Principal Economist at Eunomia Research & Consulting on the theme of nature finance and rural communities, delivered in February 2023 and hosted by Ecosystems Knowledge Network .
More nature finance resources: