The main focus of Rethink Nature's work is to promote and influence the rethinking of nature recovery, so that species and the need for targeted action (which many species need for their recovery) are given much more prominence and consideration in policy and legislative frameworks.
We challenge the widely held belief that creating, restoring and protecting habitats, landscapes and ecosystems will restore species populations, as well as the commonly held perception that recovery of species is too complex and costly.
Rethink Nature supports saving individual species because, in doing so, the whole natural system benefits.
We champion species because “a healthy environment needs resilient species populations, thriving habitats and functioning ecosystems” (State of Nature report, 2023). Our intent is for species recovery to be integrated across relevant sectors and mechanisms as an equal and critical part of our response to the nature and climate crisis and must be supported by “action and cooperation by all levels of government and by all actors of society” (Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, 2022).
We have three strategic goals:
- Goal 1: Increased societal and governmental support for species recovery
- Goal 2: Increased recovery of species through integrated action
- Goal 3: Increased effectiveness, resilience and sustainability of the partnership
Our priority activities are:
- Develop and support action and advocacy for species recovery.
- To operate at the UK and country level, recognising that each nation will require different and tailored approaches.
- Share skills, knowledge and experiences.
- To approach species recovery from a multi-taxa perspective, learning from a range of experiences, and influencing the policy landscape in a truly cross-taxa manner (“no species gets left behind”).
- To actively seek to build support and extend our reach through other organisations and interested parties who share our aspiration.
Between us the partnership organisations employ more than 2,000 staff and work with nearly 40,000 volunteers We have over 1 million followers on both Twitter and Facebook and bring more than 1.1 million people with us through our memberships. We spend over £150 million a year on nature conservation (2018 figures).
Rethink Nature is involved with the following conservation initiatives
Species Recovery
Responding positively to the nature crisis means a change in the way we work as a sector, inside and outside government. There is increasing recognition that we are able to scale up our ambition and achieve more for species conservation through collaborative working.
Multi-species programmes like Back from the Brink delivered in England, and currently those programmes being delivered in Scotland and Wales, enable us to deliver better outcomes for species by increasing capacity, pooling resources, building and expanding networks and drawing on unparalleled experience that each partner brings.
Species Champions
There are active Species Champions projects in Westminster, Senedd Cymru and the Scottish Parliament that partner elected representatives with leading conservation organisations to bring political support to the protection and promotion of threatened wildlife.
Farm Wildlife
Farm Wildlife is a partnership of leading wildlife organisations working together to provide a single source of best-practice management advice for wildlife on farmland across the UK.