It's still time #ForNature: engaging with biodiversity this July and beyond

Society for the Environment and partners call for continued action to protect and enhance biodiversity.

This June, Society for the Environment (SocEnv) has shone a spotlight on 'Biodiversity' by spearheading a campaign alongside key partners to encourage everyone to engage with the biodiversity all around us – environmental professionals, the general public, the next generation, organisations and beyond.

This campaign was launched in celebration of World Environment Day, which takes place every year on the 5 June and this year was themed around biodiversity.

Throughout the month, SocEnv has also shown support for the 30 Days Wild campaign, organised by the Wildlife Trusts, which encourages people to do one wild thing each day in June.

Through their efforts and those of their key partners Canary Wharf Group, CIEEM, IEMA, Siemen, Skanska, The Wildlife Trusts and Willmott Dixon, these campaigns have seen many successes to date, including but not limited to:

• Over 3,000 views of SocEnv webpages relating to the campaign, including the main campaign hub homepage socenv.org.uk/Biodiversity2020
• More than 500 people registered to attend SocEnv's recent biodiversity webinar series and nearly 100 have listened to SocEnv's recent special biodiversity themed podcast with guest Caroline Drummond MBE HonFSE CEnv
• A blog piece written by Martin Ballard CEnv, Group Environment Manager at Willmott Dixon, has almost 600 views and has been seen over 13,000 times across Willmott Dixon's LinkedIn and Twitter accounts
• Almost 140,000 people have signed up to 30 Days Wild, with a total participant estimate of 650,000.

World Environment Day may have passed and 30 Days Wild almost over, but we know that now is not the time to forget about the significance of biodiversity. It's still time #ForNature, as summarised by Dougal Driver CEnv, Vice-Chair of the Society for the Environment.

"Biodiversity is hugely important to our lives and so the startling rate of loss is a big issue for our wellbeing and the planet as a whole. This June, World Environment Day and 30 Days Wild have been so vital in shining a spotlight on this issue and for reminding us that small, everyday actions can make a huge difference, that everyone can play their part and, more than that, it adds huge joy to our lives when we do so. I would encourage everyone to keep the momentum going and continue to make time to protect and enhance nature this summer and beyond."

For London Climate Action Week Digital (1 - 3 July), why not check out SocEn's campaign hub where you will find resources on how you can help to protect and enhance biodiversity all around us – including home school activities, volunteering opportunites and good practice case studies. We're looking for actions large and small – they all make a really positive difference.

Plus, if you enjoyed 30 Days Wild, why not join many others and keep the committment to do one wild thing each day going! Remember to shout about what you are doing via #365DaysWild.

Reflecting on the journey so far as well as what lies ahead, Sarah Jones CEnv, Environment Manager at Siemens pls, said:

"It's been great working as part of the team to promote World Environment Day and drive engagement on the focus topics each year. For 2020's biodiversity theme we were pleased to link in the Wildlife Trusts (who Siemens have had a relationship with for a number of years), who shared their expertise, enthusiasm and resources for #30DaysWild. This helped strengthen the messaging, as well as amplifying the great work that they do all year round for biodiversity in the UK. Making this #365DaysWild reinforces the ongoing need to enhance biodiversity and recognises the important role it plays in a sustainable future."

So, what are you waiting for? Head to socenv.org.uk/Biodiversity2020 and access ideas and resources for engaging with biodiversity today!