Let nature How nature’s recovery is essentialhelp for tackling the climate crisis Let nature help

PA Wire/PA Images Getty Images Julie Hatcher Peter Cairns/2020Vision The time is now Contents To deal with the climate crisis, we must bring nature back on an ambitious scale 4 Nature-based solutions The natural systems that lock carbon away safely he world is starting to take Rapid cuts in our emissions must We must act now and we note of the threat of climate “Emission cuts be matched with determined action must get this right. According 6 What nature can do T catastrophe. In response, to fix our broken ecosystems, so to the Intergovernmental Panel The multiple benefits of giving nature a chance the UK government has joined must be matched they can help stabilise our climate. on Climate Change (IPCC), with action to fix 8 Case study 1 many governments around the We must bring nature back across decisions we take in the next Beaver reintroduction, Argyll world in setting a net zero our broken at least 30% of land and sea by 10 years are crucial for emissions target in law. ecosystems, so they 2030. Restoring wild places will avoiding total climate 9 Case study 2 The Great Fen Project, Yet we cannot tackle the climate can help stabilise also revive the natural richness we catastrophe. We must crisis without similar ambition to our climate.” all depend upon, making our lives kickstart nature’s recovery 10 Case study 3 meet the nature crisis head on – the happier and healthier. and make nature-based Abbotts Hall Farm, Essex two are inseparable. The climate have a big part solutions a priority. 11 Case study 4 crisis is driving nature’s decline; the to play in delivering this recovery. The Peat Partnership loss of wildlife and habitats leaves We are already stepping up to the us ill-equipped to reduce our important benefits is proven. But challenge, but we also need Craig Bennett 12 The way forward on land emissions and adapt to change. nature in the UK is in a sorry state decision makers, communities, CEO, The Wildlife Trusts The policies that will help nature work for us Nature’s incredible ability to trap and important habitats are businesses and everyone else to 14 The way forward at sea

carbon safely and provide other damaged and declining. come along with us. Mark Hamblin/2020Vision Cover: How to revolutionise the way we manage the sea

Terry Whittaker Niki Clear Rupert Paul

2 | wildlifetrusts.org wildlifetrusts.org | 3 ird Let nature help a B nn sa PEATLAND z u s Z The UK’s peatland soils GRASSLAND store around 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon, but are UK grasslands store 2 billion tonnes Nature-based solutions heavily degraded and of carbon, but this is vulnerable to disturbance. Between 1990-2006, The UK has a target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Nature can make release the equivalent of 23 million tonnes of arable conversion of grasslands R released 14 million tonnes of a massive contribution to achieving this, or an even more ambitious target – but only o CO every year. Restoring b 2 J CO . We can restore species-rich o them to prevent this 2 if we restore our damaged ecosystems. Here are the main areas that need attention: rd an emission is one of the grasslands to lock up carbon and support abundant wildlife. om most cost-effective .c ct e BIOMASS CARBON nature-based solutions. ir d n l w All animals and plants are carbon stores. au The size of o WOODLAND P d rt h When marine animals die, they generally e s p a u l sink and become incorporated into About 1 billion tonnes of R the prize s p ne S sediment, where their carbon might stay carbon are locked up in on t Restoring n for thousands of years. Human activities UK woodlands, mostly in io 364.1 our natural l 37% l can impact on marine animal the soils. Planting more systems could provide i million m woods and allowing natural

populations and also disturb this

37% of the CO 7 . tonnes 2 sediment, releasing carbon. regeneration could lock up

mitigation needed by 4

3 CO e 1 2 more carbon, but this must 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement. be carefully planned to maximise benefits and avoid Possible contribution harming other habitats. of UK natural systems

to reducing CO2 emissions Total UK emissions 2018

s on m m o c e v FOOD WEB CARBON i t a The crucial tool: e r Phytoplankton are the basis of C ocean food webs and absorb a Nature Recovery CO2. Globally, 10 billion tonnes of carbon are transferred Network to seabed sediments when phytoplankton die or are eaten On land, 66% of carbon in nature-rich areas is outside protected sites. We need then excreted. to identify, map and protect these ecosystems, and restore them locally l as part of a national Nature Recovery Network. We also need to incentivise au P rt farmers and other land managers to improve their land for nature and r e lo p ay u contribute to this network. N R l SEAGRASS u a At sea, we need effective marine planning and an ecologically coherent P A hectare of seagrass may store network of Marine Protected Areas.

two tonnes of CO2 a year and hold it for centuries, while providing nursery habitat for young fish. But since 1985, we have lost half our e seagrass meadows. Reducing water vi en SALTMARSH B pollution and replanting would ll ia bring them back to health. A hectare of saltmarsh can N capture two tonnes of carbon a year and lock it WETLAND into sediments for centuries, Wetlands can accumulate carbon for but we are losing nearly 100 centuries, but in some areas of the UK we hectares of saltmarsh a year. have lost over 90% of our wetland habitat. We need nature to be Coastal realignment could Restored wetlands provide rich habitat, everywhere again restore much of it, and

clean water naturally and reduce flood Roberts Matthew reduce flooding and erosion. risk downstream.

Oceans absorb 20-35% of Globally, plants have

human-made CO2 emissions removed 25% of human- every year. Carbon is made CO emissions. Soils BLUE GREEN 2 incorporated into the tissues contain more carbon than CARBON of plants and animals, and CARBON is stored in plants and the later into mud and sediments. atmosphere combined. Grey seal: Chris Gomersall/2020Vision. Gannet: David Chapman. Wren: Colin Varndell Varndell Colin Chapman. Wren: Gannet: David seal: Chris Gomersall/2020Vision. Grey

4 | wildlifetrusts.org wildlifetrusts.org | 5 Let nature help What nature can do if given a chance Restoring nature doesn’t just lock up carbon; it delivers multiple other benefits besides

ealthy ecosystems on land sea, so the natural world can cope COASTAL DEFENCES and at sea can absorb vast with the climate change that is Habitats like saltmarsh and seagrass H quantities of CO from the already happening and contribute help protect us from coastal erosion We can deliver 2 atmosphere and lock it away as effectively to stabilising it. and storm surges, while providing For more than a century, The farmers and landowners on how carbon. However, human activities Doing this across a mosaic of important nursery areas for fish. Wildlife Trusts have been saving, best to care for their land so that such as intensive arable farming, connected habitats will also deliver protecting and restoring wild it sustains wildlife. overgrazing, overfishing and countless other benefits: HEALTHIER LIVES places, and bringing people Jon Hawkins We have the know-how and irresponsible development release Woodlands and other wild closer to nature. expertise to work in partnership. this stored carbon and drive FLOOD PROTECTION places clean the air, regulate We are involved in projects to With investment and support nature’s decline. Healthy habitats such as protected temperature, and improve our restore and connect habitats from governments, businesses As a first step, we urgently need wetlands, restored peatlands, health and wellbeing. across the country as part of a and local communities, we can to protect important ecosystems so wildflower-rich grasslands and Nature Recovery Network, from create real change for nature’s their carbon isn’t released and they native woodlands can slow, store NATURAL RESILIENCE re-wetting peatland to creating recovery, so that nature-based

can continue to absorb CO2. We and filter water, reducing the risk of Thriving ecosystems provide the saltmarsh and planting seagrass. Our ground-up structure means we are solutions can play a massive role also need to put nature into flooding downstream and cleaning pollinators, soils, nutrients, food and We also advise thousands of the local experts in achieving net zero emissions. recovery across a third of land and water naturally. water that sustain us.

Our work on more than 100 Living Landscape projects across the UK shows that restoring nature is sustainable and feasible Lee Beel Lee

6 | wildlifetrusts.org wildlifetrusts.org | 7 Let nature help Four flagship projects The Wildlife Trusts are taking action to bring nature back across the UK. Here’s a flavour...

Scottish Beavers, Argyll

Sarah Robinson protection. In May 2009, we were “This was one of the largest field one of the lead partners of the trials of its kind in Europe. Extensive Director of Scottish Beaver Trial, a pioneering independent scientific monitoring Conservation, five-year project that saw the of their impact on the natural Scottish Wildlife licensed release of 16 beavers into environment paved the way for the Trust Knapdale Forest, Argyll. Scottish Government to recognise beavers as a native, protected “Beavers are industrious ecosystem species in Scotland in 2019. Further engineers. Their dams create “Beaver dams reinforcement of the Knapdale wetland habitats that support a beavers has been carried out to wide range of other species, and boost wildlife, slow boost their numbers and increase they slow the flow of water, the flow of water, genetic diversity. reducing flood risk downstream reduce flood risk “Other Wildlife Trusts around the and keeping streams and rivers and keep streams UK are involved in beaver running during droughts. and rivers running reintroductions, all providing insight “The during droughts.” into the benefits beavers has long championed their can bring to people reintroduction and and wildlife.” The Great Fen Project will be 18 square miles of varied wetland habitats bluesky-world.com

The Great Fen Project, Cambridgeshire

Natural , local authorities nearby farmland, and save an Lorna Parker and land managers to rewet estimated 325,000 tonnes of CO2 Restoration farmland and restore 3,700 from being released each year Manager, BCN hectares of fen. through peat loss. Wildlife Trust “This will reconnect Holme Fen “Through our Water Works and Woodwalton Fen National project, our Wildlife Trust is also “Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Nature Reserves, create a huge aiming to change the face of Northamptonshire (BCN) Wildlife mosaic of wetland habitats for the farming in the Cambridgeshire fens Trust is leading the Great Fen benefit of people and wildlife, for the better. We are working with project to create landscape-scale reduce the risk of flooding on partners and local farmers to trial change and deliver one of the innovative wetland farming largest restoration projects of its techniques at the Great Fen that kind in Europe. can help rewet the fen and halt and “99% of wild fen in Eastern “This huge wetland reverse the release of carbon. England has been historically mosaic will save “The Water Works project could drained to create farmland, leading around 325,000 be truly transformative for future to the ongoing release of carbon as generations farming in the fens, tonnes of CO2 from dry peaty soils oxidise or simply being released creating new sources of income for A beaver at Knapdale, blow away. At the Great Fen near farmers, protecting food supplies Argyll. The project has each year through Peterborough, we at the Wildlife peat loss.” and the natural environment, and demonstrated how these Trust are working in partnership combating climate change.” ecosystem engineers benefit with the Environment Agency, The Big Picture/Nature Picture Library Picture Big Picture/Nature The people and wildlife

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The Yorkshire Peat Partnership

Tim Thom massive scale by surveying the “This vital work can reverse the Peat Programme habitat and working to block loss of peat and helps keep carbon drainage ditches, replant bare areas locked up. It also helps regulate Manager, with mosses and other plants, and water flow and reduces the risk of Yorkshire Wildlife reduce erosion. flooding, increasing the resilience of Trust “So far, we have completed communities downstream. restoration works on over 30,000 “Many other Wildlife Trusts have “Yorkshire has 23% of all the UK’s hectares of a total 86,000 hectares similar projects to revive UK blanket bog, a type of peatland, of Yorkshire’s blanket bog. peatlands, preserving this vital and Yorkshire’s peatland holds an resource into the future. estimated 38 million tonnes of “As well as natural flood carbon in total. However, much of it “So far the management and carbon storage, is in decline – channels were partnership healthy peatlands are amazing historically cut to drain the habitats for extraordinary wildlife, peatland, and ongoing activities has completed including reptiles and carnivorous such as grazing and burning can restoration of over plants. They’re beautiful places to continue to cause damage. 30,000 hectares of visit too. But despite the progress “Since 2009, Yorkshire Wildlife blanket bog, out of we’re making, restoring peatlands Trust has been leading the a total 86,000.” takes time and needs a long-term Yorkshire Peat Partnership to outlook with corresponding long- restore the blanket bog on a term policies and funding.”

The saltmarsh at Blocking ditches and Abbotts Hall Farm has eroded gullies helps been accumulating rewet and protect carbon for almost peatland 20 years Terry Whittaker/2020Vision Terry

Abbotts Hall Farm, Essex

Andrew Impey need of repair. Instead of were installed further inland and in Chief Executive, undertaking the costly work to 2002 the old seawall was breached maintain it, the Wildlife Trust and to allow tides to wash onto disused Essex Wildlife the Environment Agency explored farmland. The managed retreat is Trust coastal defence methods which transforming 50 hectares of took account of rising sea levels. previously arable land into “After two years of studies, saltmarsh abundant with wildlife, “Rising sea levels and increasingly monitoring, and consulting the particularly migrating birds. The frequent storms threaten both local community, new defences new habitat is also teeming with manmade defences and important young bass, herring and 14 other habitats on our coastlines. In Essex, types of fish feeding in the creeks up to 60% of coastal marshes have within the marshes. been eroded in the last 20 years. “After two years “This ground-breaking project “At Abbotts Hall Farm, Essex of studies, the shows what can be achieved when Wildlife Trust has worked with the old seawall was coastal realignment is carried out Environment Agency to realign breached in 2002 in suitable places and static the coast and create thriving to allow tides to seawalls are replaced with saltmarsh habitat. wash onto disused dynamic, carbon-absorbing tidal “When the Wildlife Trust farmland.” habitat, helping our wildlife and purchased Abbotts Hall Farm in coastal communities stay resilient

1999, part of the sea wall was in in the face of change.” Roberts Matthew

10 | wildlifetrusts.org wildlifetrusts.org | 11 Let nature help A better way to

COAST Our coasts must be manage our land managed to cope with climate change. Coastal Our natural habitats can become long-term carbon stores if they are allowed to function realignment can create well. This will take careful planning, regulation, incentives and good land management. carbon absorbing, species- rich habitats and natural defences against sea level rise and storm surges.

PEATLANDS GRASSLANDS These vast stores of Species-rich carbon need positive long- grasslands are huge term management. Restored carbon stores and when peatlands can capture more managed carefully, e.g. carbon, reduce flooding, through herb-rich leys and clean our water, and sensitive grazing, they HEDGEROWS allow wildlife to lock in carbon and The UK’s hedgerows thrive. boost biodiversity. store carbon above and below ground, and connect habitats across the landscape. We need 40% more hedgerows to help reach net zero by 2050.

WETLANDS Healthy wetlands WOODLANDS store carbon, support We need to protect wildlife and hold back flood our existing woodland water. Reducing drainage and help it to expand and and over-abstraction, the join up. Semi-natural native SOILS return of beavers and woods store carbon, reduce Soil organic naturalising rivers flood risk, and improve matter stores will lock up more our wellbeing when we more carbon than any carbon. visit them. other land system, but is threatened by intensive farming. Crop rotation, cover crops and less ploughing can restore this fundamental asset.

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DESIGNATED AREAS Well managed and monitored A better way to Marine Protected Areas are vital for nature’s recovery at sea, and they safeguard important carbon storing habitats like seagrass manage our sea meadows. Effective management of our Marine Protected Areas network, designating a suite of Highly SEAWEED AQUACULTURE Protected Marine Areas and introducing Marine Sustainable seaweed Spatial Planning would integrate all activities to farms can store carbon avoid unintentional harm and maximise benefits, and reduce the impacts of ocean acidification. They including the ability to absorb more human-made can also provide habitat CO emissions. and nursery grounds 2 for young fish and crustaceans.

LOCAL TOURISM Caring for and protecting nature can boost the local economy through increased eco-tourism, and improve people’s access to nature, making them happier and healthier.

RETURN OF OCEAN GIANTS Bigger populations of REAL species like whales and PROTECTION basking sharks would store To give marine wildlife more carbon. We need to the best opportunity to protect them from pollution, recover, we need to deliver industrial fishing and a suite of Highly Protected other harmful human Marine Areas with the activities. strictest possible protections. NO-TRAWL POWER CABLES Laying cables for offshore windfarms can damage habitats and BUBBLE sediments. Laying should be CURTAINS unobtrusive and, to prevent Construction at sea damage, trawling near can cause noise pollution, cables should be harming species like harbour prohibited. porpoises. Less impactful methods and noise dampening measures like bubble curtains are essential.

14 | wildlifetrusts.org wildlifetrusts.org | 15 Nature needs our help to recover...

Together, we can make it happen

The Wildlife Trusts have the natural processes and recovering the ultimate aim of securing 30% of experience and reach to deliver wild places for decades. land and sea for nature’s recovery. nature-based solutions locally and Our work on the ground is expert- We have the skills and knowledge at scale. led and guided by Nature Recovery to create thriving, connected wild Together with communities, Network mapping, ensuring places that support abundant landowners, and public and private projects are delivered in the right wildlife, lock up carbon naturally, and partners, we have been restoring place and in a joined up way – with provide other benefits including:

● cleaner air and water, with fewer pollutants such as nitrates, phosphates and particulate matter;

● cost-effective natural flood management and coastal defences;

● delivery of biodiversity ‘net gain’ where losses arise following development;

Luke Massey/2020Vision Luke ● connecting people and nature, for the benefit of their health, wellbeing and enjoyment of life.

The climate and ecological emergency affects us all. You can help The Wildlife Trusts make a real and lasting difference by supporting us to lock up more carbon and make nature’s recovery a reality.

Find out more about nature-based solutions [email protected]