G7 ‘legacy’ project launched to protect and restore nature across Cornwall
2021.06.11
The UK government has pledged an initial £700,000 for a nature recovery project in Cornwall as a “legacy” of this week’s G7 summit.
Read MoreTourism and the natural environment can be managed in ways that benefit both, new research reports suggest.
The research reports – led by the University of Exeter and funded by the UKRI’s Strategic Priorities Fund – identify ways to develop “positive synergies” between the visitor economy and the protection and enhancement of nature in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Recommendations include creating local networks with “community buy-in” to ensure the benefits of tourism are spread widely.
These networks could support “nature recovery projects”, partly funded by donations from visitors.
The reports also recommend nature education for hospitality staff, allowing them to act as champions of the local environment.
“The pandemic has boosted the selling power of the natural environment of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly,” said Professor Jane Wills, director of the Environment and Sustainability Institute on Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall.
“We know that record numbers of people are wanting to visit and at the same time, we know that it is more urgent than ever to protect and restore our precious ecosystems.
“This research project has identified new initiatives that can help us generate positive synergies between the visitor economy and nature’s recovery.
“For the Isles of Scilly, we explored support for a Scilly Pledge that would engage and educate visitors about the environment, promoting pro-nature behaviour.
“This would be accompanied by a robust measurement and monitoring system to track changes in the natural environment over time.
Professor Jane Wills - Director of the Environment and Sustainability Institute on Exeter's Penryn Campus in Cornwall
The project team engaged with a range of people including tourism business owners and providers, land and ecosystem managers, social enterprises, residents and visitors.
Partners of the project, which was funded by UK Research and Innovation, were Cornwall Council, Council of the Isles of Scilly, Islands Partnership, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, Tevi and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership.
The Environment and Sustainability Institute is working with partners to develop innovative responses to environmental change. To find out more and to watch a new video about this work, visit www.exeter.ac.uk/esi/
2021.06.11
The UK government has pledged an initial £700,000 for a nature recovery project in Cornwall as a “legacy” of this week’s G7 summit.
Read More