Collaborative effort brings together simple message: protecting nature is not enough

CORNWALL and the Isles of Scilly are celebrated for their wildlife, and visitors come to enjoy our natural environment and landscapes from all over the UK and the world.

- by MATT WALPOLE Chief executive Cornwall Wildlife Trust

Whether it's our miles of dramatic coastline, distinctive towns and villages, wild moorlands, quiet lanes and fields bordered by Cornish hedges or the beautiful islands with soaring seabirds, we know that nature is not just nice to have.

Nature delivers a healthy economy, shapes our heritage and culture and ensures the health and wellbeing of our communities. Nature provides us with clean air, water and food, while nature-based solutions can help us mitigate and adapt to a changing climate, helping wildlife and communities to thrive. The more we do for nature, the more it can do for us.

However, as chief executive of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust I'm keenly aware of how fragile this is and that, like the rest of the UK, nature in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is in decline.

That's why I've been delighted to support the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Nature Recovery Strategy on behalf of the Local Nature Partnership, which was published earlier this year.

The strategy has been led by Cornwall Council but is a truly collaborative effort, bringing together the views of thousands of residents, landowners, farmers, academics and environmental specialists to create a collective vision for nature across our region.