This World Environment Day, engage with the biodiversity all around us

This year's theme is biodiversity and the Society for the Environment want everyone to play their part.

In the UK and beyond, the Society for the Environment (SocEnv) champions World Environment Day – a UN initiative which takes place on the 5 June each year. The initiative provides a platform for global education and inspiration; shining attention on a particularly pressing environmental theme. 

This year, the global theme for World Environment Day is Biodiversity – a topic which Chartered Environmentalists agree is hugely important for the environment, both currently and looking to the future.

As part of this celebration on World Environment Day, the Society and key partners are spearheading an awareness campaign to help people engage with biodiversity. 

At the heart of the campaign is the knowledge that everyone can play a part in helping to protect and enhance the biodiversity that we all live amongst.

Working alongside key partners Canary Wharf Group, CIEEM, IEMA, Siemens, Skanska, The Wildlife Trusts and Wilmott Dixon, SocEnv have put together the Biodiversity Campaign Hub – featuring tons of resources and inspirational ideas! There is something for everyone – whatever your age or profession.

Nigel Sagar CEng CEnv MICE MIEMA, Senior Environmental Compliance Manager at Skanska, explains why the campaign is so important:

"Within the construction industry it is encouraging to see a shift towards tackling the twin challenges of the climate emergency and declines in biodiversity head on, for example through the proposed mandatory biodiversity net gain requirement under the Environment Bill and with significant national infrastructure projects looking to achieve net gain.

"As we move forwards in a world altered as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, it is encouraging to see how many people have managed to connect with nature or are rediscovering their love of the natural world as a result of spending time in lockdown. The economic and health benefits from good biodiversity and access to nature are well known – we clearly observe this through speaking to our staff and their participation in volunteering days with a biodiversity theme – and I hope they will form a key part of our recovery plans as a nation and globally."

Martin Gettings CEnv, Head of sustainability at Canary Wharf Group, agrees: 

"The focus for World Environment Day 2020 is Biodiversity and now is a great time to highlight the ecology so close to all our doorsteps. Together we can find ways to inspire and activate urban populations to be more aware and involved, to connect with the natural world closer to home and to enjoy the enhanced quality of life and wellbeing, connection with nature brings to all of us."

To maximise their combined impact, SocEnv have also teamed up with the Wildlife Trusts' 30 Days Wild campaign, which encourages people to do one wild thing each day during the month of June. 

Celebrating this collaboration and looking ahead to both World Environment Day and 30 Days Wild, Leanne Manchester, Digital and Content Manager at the Wildlife Trusts, said:

"World Environment Day provides a spotlight for issues that the natural world is facing and the importance of connecting with it in order to take action. In taking part in 30 Days Wild, and spending time immersing themselves in the wildlife on their doorsteps, we know that people feel better and more connected to nature. That's why we're encouraging everybody to take part in 30 Days Wild this year!"

To find out more about what you can do to enhance biodiversity and how you can encourage others to do the same, visit socenv.org.uk/Biodiversity2020 today!

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