Support Nature Conservation charities so that staff can return to work

There is a lot of work that could be being undertaken on nature reserves that poses no risk to anyone of infection by covid. However, because many of these nature reserves are owned and managed by charities, the staff have been furloughed because the charities cannot afford to keep paying them (because there's less income coming in through car parking or membership subscriptions).

If the gov were to pay charities to cover the cost of wages feather than furlough payments, then these charities could return to working to conserve the very nature that this pandemic is showing us is so important.

Why the contribution is important

Because nature is important in its own right, but also because nature reserves play an important part in our wellbeing (as this pandemic has highlighted), and in the tourism economy of Scotland.

by lizacole on May 09, 2020 at 03:53PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.9
Based on: 16 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Aleck May 09, 2020 at 17:21

    The changing climate impacts and carbon reduction targets are still issues Scotland is having to face up to, and conservation charities, and the work they do, are a key element of the response to those issues. There is stopped work relevant to this, such as woodland expansion schemes, that could go ahead if the salaries can be covered temporarily by the government as proposed in this idea.

  • Posted by Hayzee May 09, 2020 at 19:35

    Agree. Many of the sites are those to which visitors will head as soon as lockdown ends. With staff furloughed it will not be possible to ensure that they are ready to receive visitors in accordance with government guidelines re. social distancing etc., but also carry out post-winter repairs to footpaths and other infrastructure. Direct support equivalent to furlough costs would enable this work to resume.

  • Posted by ellied1 May 10, 2020 at 08:21

    If sites contributing to environmental recovery are supported then we start to reverse the conditions that lead to pandemic viruses thriving.

    Also, tree planting, wildlife monitoring and other forms of conservation volunteering etc are safe activities for social distanced working and could be offered to people suffering from prolonged isolation and mental suffering living alone.

  • Posted by AGWalker May 10, 2020 at 15:40

    Biodiversity is important in its own right however it is also one of the prime drivers of the economy that underpins rural communities and our quality of life. When lockdown is lifted people will flock to the countryside. They will need good, safe and managed access- both to protect them but also to protect the resource. With SNH pulling back from providing this role, the conservation charities such as NTS, RSPB, SWT and the JMT are now the leads but they are underfunded and their income has been slashed.
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