People's Assembly for Nature- Second Weekend
Protecting and Restoring Nature
Second weekend: 3rd-4th December 2022, online
During the second weekend, assembly members were able to build a picture of the historical, current and potential future extents of the UK’s habitats and species, and how these interface with human activity. They further developed their understanding of the primary drivers of nature loss, the present protection frameworks in place and the efficacy of these. They considered the impact of growing urbanisation and associated disconnection from nature, and how we can solve this through policy and planning schemes. In addition to hearing about such challenges, assembly members explored the art of the possible through successful protection and restoration projects; they considered how such efforts might be taken to scale in a fair and just way, with explicit consideration of the trade-offs at hand.
Who spoke at the assembly?
Learn about who spoke at the second assembly weekend (3-4 December)
What happened during the second assembly
Learn more about the presentations and discussion topics of the second assembly weekend (3-4 December)
Presentations and talks
Welcome to the second assembly weekend
Professor Nathalie Seddon- University of Oxford (Academic Lead)
UK habitats, species, and associated change- what are the protection mechanisms currently in place?
Richard Benwell- Wildlife and Countryside Link
Why are current protections not delivering for nature?
Nadia Shaikh- Freelance Nature Consultant
How have legal protections on internationally important site resulted in a good outcome for nature?
Dr Sara McGuckin- Chief Scientific Officer of Northern Ireland Environment Agency
How planning can help: a focus at local authority level
Tom Tew- Nature Space
Scotland's No Take Zone inspires at EU Life Platform Meeting
YouTube video
Farming within a protected landscape
Sam Beaumont- Gowbarrow Hall Farm
The role of nature connection and improving it to unite both human and nature's wellbeing
Professor Miles Richardson- University of Derby
Access to nature and how this varies across different communities
Maxwell Ayamba- Sheffield Environmental Movement
Active urban greening projects; benefits and challenges
Gillian Dick- Glasgow City Council
New housing developments and building in biodiversity-friendly measures
Nigel Symes- RSPB- Barratt Homes Kingsbrook
How could decision making be done differently if those round the table were connected to- and accounted for- nature?
Kat Deeney- Plymouth City Council
What do we mean by nature restoration?
Professor Rosemary Hails- Nature and Science Director, National Trust
Community-led restoration initiatives
Philip Price- Seawilding Scotland
Nature restoration project: demonstrating process-led rewilding
James Rainey- Senior Ecologist at Trees for Life
A multi-partner restoration project in a highly populated area
Tim Ferrero- Wilder Solent
