The Big Brownfield Biodiversity Botch

Birkbeck, University of London in conjunction with the Ecology and Conservation Studies Society present the latest in the free ‘Land use’ lecture series.

Increased and competing pressures on our use of land pose an escalating environmental challenge at every level. What is our long term vision for land use in the UK, and how can we achieve this?

‘The Big Brownfield Biodiversity Botch’

Matt Shardlow, Chief Executive Officer of Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust.

Government policy is forcing an unprecedented level of development onto brownfield land as this is perceived to be much more acceptable to the public than building on greenfields. But it has become increasingly obvious that the current definition of brownfield (previously developed land) includes a great many sites that are of high importance to rare and endangered species, while many ‘greenfields’ are just ploughed fields, barren of life.

Recent work by Buglife has shown over half of brownfield land in the Thames Gateway is likely to be of high importance to biodiversity, but at current rates of development it will all be lost in 20 years.

How does biodiversity conversation currently work with the planning system?  How should it be working? How do our perceptions of wildlife needs compare to the reality?

‘Sustainable cities - a space for nature?’

Pete Massini, Future London Programme Manager, Natural England

For many, the urban environment is the very antithesis of the natural environment. The aspiration to form more sustainable cities is likely to result in urban densification, a greater demand for outdoor space for people and the creation of a green infrastructure which is designed and managed primarily for practical functions such as flood management. So is there space for nature in the urban environment? If so, can we rely on the traditional approach to nature conservation as new urban landscapes are formed? The lecture will explore whether we need to think about nature conservation in urban areas differently.

Can we make nature part of the city - not apart from the city?

Friday 7 November in B34 Malet Street. Free tickets, booking required Tel: 020 7679 1069

e-mail: environment@fll.bbk.ac.uk Doors open 6.00pm. All lectures 6.30 to 8.30pm

Click here for more information on the ‘Land use lecture series’

Click here for more information on Birkbeck’s Institute of the Environment