"Nature Positive" – Keep it simple

The explanation of the term "Nature Positive" must be kept simple. Not because the topic is simple – grappling with biological terms like ‘biodiversity’, ‘ecosystems’, ‘biosphere’, or even ‘Blue Carbon’ can be challenging – but because it is vital that these fundamentals are understood.

This understanding underpins the recognition that the natural world is not only integral to the growth and prosperity of business, but also vital to our happiness, health and, of course, our survival.

Consider the difference between?biodiversity,?ecosystems, and?nature, for instance. These can easily be confused, and while their differences may not be important for some, an explanation can help convey why each has a different role to play. I compare?nature?to a machine: it needs various parts to operate, and energy to drive it. The parts include a wide range of ‘living’ things – this is what we term?biodiversity?– together with ‘non-living’ components – such as air, water, and soil – and all the interactions between them.?Ecosystems?are systems within the machine, separate (but connected) groups of living and non-living things, working together to perform many functions. They produce energy and circulate nutrients, clean and enrich the air that we breathe, and provide fresh drinking water, food, materials and even many important medicines – performing what are called?ecosystem services. The analogy, while simple, explains the importance of each component and why their loss must be avoided, quite literally, at our peril.

The focus of ANIMONDIAL’s work is to support the Travel & Tourism sector to adopt a?Nature Positive?approach. As it sounds, this encourages and inspires actions that have a positive impact on nature, while taking measures to minimise or avoid activities that damage nature. Travel & Tourism can drive biodiversity loss and degrade nature, but managed well – by educating customers, employees, and in-destination partners, adopting safeguards, and supporting Nature-Based Solutions – Travel & Tourism can be a force for good, influencing local communities and government to better protect their natural heritage.

These actions are considered as integral to achieving?Net Zero, another term that is widely promoted and the focus of a previous ANIMONDIAL?blog . Net Zero is achieved when CO2 emissions are fully balanced by actions that remove and store carbon, so the net increase in CO2 in the atmosphere is zero. Many natural processes can be harnessed to remove and store carbon, and global experts recognise that biodiversity loss and climate change mutually reinforce each other and, being driven by the same human activities, can only be tackled together. Failure to do so will have negative consequences on human wellbeing and our quality of life.

While it is vital that all actions and activities that drive biodiversity loss and release CO2 are minimised wherever possible, actions that protect biodiversity and restore nature are equally important. Not only do such measures help maintain the planet’s functioning ecosystems (and the services they provide) but boosting biodiversity can help ensure that greater amounts of atmospheric carbon is absorbed and stored. Actions which use nature protection and enhancement to remove and store carbon are often referred to as?Nature-based Solutions.

Maintaining nature’s ability to remove carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis in plants and store it in living tissues or dead ‘organic matter’ – either on land (Green Carbon) or in seas and oceans (Blue Carbon) – is key to Nature-based Solutions.

One of our main jobs at ANIMONIDAL is to ensure that the complex world of animal and nature protection is made simple for our clients. By using straightforward and clearly explained terminology we can help to ensure a greater understanding of the issues, the need to act, and the practical options available to adopt a Nature Positive approach.

A sustainable society requires both a stable climate & healthy ecosystems.

ANIMONDIAL has long championed a Nature Positive approach for Travel & Tourism, and through our work with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA), and the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), we aim to guide and support Travel & Tourism towards a Nature Positive future through:

1. The whitepaper , produced with the WTTC, it positions Travel & Tourism as a force for good in bringing greater value to nature and encouraging its better protection.?It explains the importance of nature, highlights the impacts of mismanagement, and provides best practice examples.
2. eTraining , produced with the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA). This comprehensive guide for tourism professionals combines guidance on animal and nature protection in tourism with interviews and case studies.
3. Evaluation of business performance ?to identify dependencies and impacts on biodiversity and the natural environment. Our NATOUR IMPACT tool is aligned to industry guidance and biodiversity targets to ensure your business is on course for a Net Zero and Nature Positive future.
4. A Nature Positive Toolbox , that provides Travel & Tourism partners with bespoke solutions to boost biodiversity, restore nature, and reduce emissions.