Ecosystems Knowledge Network news, events and resources.

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Dear <<First Name>>,

The machine that makes green buzzwords is never idle. Its latest product is "nature positive".

It is vital to restore our surroundings. But will this new term - "nature positive" - spur on new action and new outcomes? If so, will these outcomes make difference in the lives of people, and not just in the lives of other living things? A difference for the weakest members of society?

As ever, our focus at Ecosystems Knowledge Network is on harnessing the value of the environment for the benefit of everyone in society. We do this by highlighting innovation and resources that can make an enduring difference for both people and "nature".

Join us in our endeavour. This e-news is just part of that.

Oh and please don't forget to participate in our survey with the option to enter a draw to win copies of Monopoly Go Green - see the link at the bottom of this email.

Kind regards,

Stuart Robertson
EKN's Knowledge Exchange Specialist

New resource to support the introduction of Local Place Plans in Scotland
Launch of Bristol Avon Catchment Market
Nature visuals report: The importance of diversity in images of people engaging with nature
Natural England seeking feedback on Green Infrastructure - Questionnaire

Go to news

Webinar - The Natural Capital Laboratory: A Scottish rewilding experiment
Accelerating Woodland Creation & Management conference 2022 - Tickets on sale now!
Brand new conference - Game On for Nature - save the date!
Hybrid event: Investing in Nature: Lessons from Greater Manchester (IGNITION project)
Webinar - A Collaborative Approach to Coastal Management

Go to events

The role of nature in health and care
100 Business Actions for Nature
A guide for local authorities on planning for climate change
Farmer guidance on woodland creation
Access the latest of the Network's webinar recordings

Go to resources

News

Place Based Framework for Scotland

New resource to support the introduction of Local Place Plans in Scotland

A requirement for ‘Local Place Plans’ has been introduced in Scotland as part of planning reform. These plans will be for a community-led, collaborative approach to improving the places where people live and work. ‘Our Place’ is a web resource that has been produced by Scottish Government to aid the implementation of these Place Plans. Biodiversity, soil, water and air quality, and natural habitats are part of the considerations.
Visit the 'Our Place' website.

Launch of Bristol Avon Catchment Market

New environmental market for landowners and business

The Bristol Avon Catchment Market is has been designed to deliver verified environmental improvements, to secure new income for landholders, and to ensure value-for-money for buyers of 'services' provided by the environment. For businesses, it provides an opportunity to increase the demand for local projects that lead to verifiable outcomes such as deliver carbon sequestration, increased biodiversity, natural flood risk management and reductions in nutrient loss to water courses. Find out more here.

Nature visuals report

The importance of diversity in images of people engaging with nature

This report, published at the the end of 2021, highlights the lack of diversity in images of people enjoying outdoor activities. It explains the impact this has both on people and on public engagement in matters relating to climate and nature. The report makes recommendations for developing more inclusive visual images about nature. It was commissioned by Natural England and produced by Climate Outreach, a charity that supports public dialogue about climate change. Read the report here.

English green infrastructure framework

Natural England seeking feedback

Green infrastructure is a term used to represent the networks of natural features that provide benefits to people. Natural England is seeking feedback to help shape its work on this topic. The Green Infrastructure Framework is a commitment in HM Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan for England. An introductory blog explains more. Natural England is now inviting feedback to develop the Green Infrastructure Framework. If you would like to provide feedback you can access the short questionnaire here (closing date 1st April 2022).

Events

The Natural Capital Laboratory: A Scottish rewilding experiment
EKN webinar, 24th February 2022, 1 - 2pm

Secure your place today - 1 week to go
'Rewilding' is a term that refers to restoration of species and habitat in ways that involve minimal long-term management. The Natural Capital Laboratory is an award-winning 'rewilding' experiment in the Highlands of Scotland which serves as an outdoor laboratory for the design and testing of innovative new solutions to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis. This webinar will provide insight into the results from the second year of the project. Topics will include accounting for different forms of 'capital', aquatic ecology and eDNA, remote biodiversity monitoring, virtual reality, and peatland restoration. Register for the webinar here.

Accelerating Woodland Creation & Management conference 2022 - Tickets on sale now!
Online, 31st March 2022, 12 - 5:30pm

Now in its third year, this online interactive event is all about how to fulfil the ambitious goals for woodland creation in England and Wales, as well as ensure good stewardship of what has already been planted. The keynote speaker is Dr Chris Quine, Chief Scientist at Forest Research.

View the programme and register for tickets here.

Book now for £10 discount for EKN members using the discount code EKN10 - offer closes this week.

Please note the date for this event is March - not May as listed in last month's E-News.

Brand new conference -
Game On for Nature Conference 2022 - save the date!
Online, 28th April 2022

We continue to build the programme for this exciting new event with big names from both the environmental world and the worlds of games, gamification and game design lined up to feature - all to help explore the potential of games and gamification to improve the stewardship of land, water and nature!

Pre-register to be the first to hear when tickets become available.

If you would like to be involved in the conference programme as a sponsor or speaker, please let us know via conference@ecosystemsknowledge.net

Events run by others

A Collaborative Approach to Coastal Management
Webinar, 2nd March 2022, 9:30 - 11:30am

The Wholescape Approach to Marine Management (WAMM) project was established to help drive closer collaboration between the Catchment Based Approach ‘CaBA’ Partnerships, Coastal Partnerships and the Coastal Partnerships Network. This webinar will provide an overview of the project, including the development of a ‘Roadmap to Collaborative Delivery’, the coastal data package and explorer and case studies of collaborative working. Register for the webinar here.

Investing in Nature: Lessons from Greater Manchester (IGNITION project)
Hybrid event, 29th & 30th March 2022

The IGNITION project was set up with the mission to shed light on the value of nature-based solutions at scale and investigate innovative financing mechanisms. 12 project partners have been deepening understanding of the challenges and opportunities surrounding greening our urban environments and engaging vital stakeholders who are taking action. After three years of research, innovation and implementation, they are ready to share the lessons learned and provide actionable recommendations, as well as the tools and resources to create change. Register here.

Resources

The role of nature in health and care

Free online training on the role of nature in health & care

In January, the West of England Nature Partnership organised online training on the role of nature in health and care. It was run as part of the Green Social Prescribing Pilot in the West of England and hosted by Michéal Connors, Director of Natural Academy (a social enterprise). During 2022, the West of England Nature Partnership will be coordinating a programme of support and training for local nature-based projects aiming to deliver health benefit, as well as those who wish to refer people to these projects. Access the recording here and the slides here.

100 Business Actions for Nature

Insight from the Scottish Forum on Natural Capital

This website resource, created by the the Scottish Forum on Natural Capital, has been designed to help businesses build nature and climate into decision-making processes. The hope is that businesses will use the website, with its easy to explore wheel, to find suggestions, implement actions, and share ideas that will progress Scotland's sustainable development goals. Explore the website here.

The Climate Crisis & Local Authorities

A guide for local authorities on planning for climate change

This guide is intended as an introduction to some of the key issues relating to climate adaptation and climate mitigation. The report has been produced by the Town and Country Planning Association and the Royal Town Planning Institute. It is of value to local authorities, but others responsible for the stewardship of land, water and nature. The role of the natural environment in adaptation and mitigation is highlighted, including use of vegetation and landform for urban cooling and flood defence.
Read the full guide here.

Farmer guidance on woodland creation

Benefits farms and farmers

This four page pamphlet from the Forestry Commission, written for farmers in England, sets out the major benefits that tree planting and woodland creation could bring. It emphasises woodland creation as a way for farmers to diversify, generate reliable revenue streams and deliver environmental benefits that support their wider land management goals.
Access the guidance here.
See above for the Accelerating Woodland Creation & Management Conference.

Access latest webinar recordings

Place-making and a strategic view of nature

In January 2022 Ecosystems Knowledge Network hosted two sessions focusing the 25 Year Environment Plan's goal for local organisations involved in the stewardship of land, water and nature to adopt a natural capital approach. Across the two sessions we gained insight from four local initiatives (Tees Valley, Greater Lincolnshire, Dorset, and Liverpool City Region) who have been working to create a common understanding of place through natural capital evidence. These sessions also included an introduction to the Natural Capital Evidence Handbook, published earlier this year. Access the full recordings of these sessions via our webinar library here.

- Help us to help you -

Last chance to win ... and inform our work

As we start the year, please would you spend five minutes helping us by completing our short member survey. Help us to serve your learning needs. Gain the chance to win one of three copies of Monopoly Go Green. Complete the survey here.
To be eligible for the prize draw please complete the survey before 21st February 2022.

Send us your news - do you have project news or reports you want to share, new tools or other resources? Let us know via info@ecosystemsknowledge.net

An award winning hub for shared learning!

Ecosystems Knowledge Network is delighted to share that it has won the 'Best Practice - Knowledge Sharing' award in the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management 2021 Awards. Thank you for the part that you play in our unique UK-wide knowledge-sharing work. Read more about the awards here.

The Ecosystems Knowledge Network is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered with the Charities Commission for England and Wales (No. 1159867) and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (No. SC045732).

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