Sustainability in practice

An audit of sustainability measures across our work

Along with the wider Wildlife Trusts movement across the UK, we have committed to a goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The main priority is to reduce avoidable emissions and dependency on fossil fuels. We have been taking an evidence-led approach to understand and calculate our emissions across all our operations, including fleet transport, energy, staff travel, commuting, waste and recycling. In the future, we will be adding more categories to build up a much more comprehensive picture of our overall footprint year on year.

Emissions from all our activities, excluding livestock, were 189 tonnes of CO₂ in 2020-21*, the most recent year to have been analysed. Transport related emissions accounted for a significant proportion of these. There are currently no accepted methods for estimating emissions from the pasture-fed, traditional-breed stock on reserves.

Emissions from activities are somewhat dwarfed by abated emissions from the Great Fen, where several hundreds of thousands of tonnes of carbon in the peat soils are being safeguarded, equivalent to over 2 million tonnes of CO₂according to experts at Cranfield University. The long term ambition is to restore 3,700 ha of fenland and connect to ancient natural fens, Woodwalton Fen and Holme Fen. Over 1200 ha are now under ownership and restoration, working closing with our partners Natural England, Environment Agency, Hunts District Council and the Middle Level Commissioners, as well as collaborations with DEFRA - through the Lowland Agricultural Peat Taskforce, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and University of East London.

New Equipment - sustainability — Jane Pearman

The Trust has also mapped and assessed above ground carbon stores in its nature reserves and habitats, including woodland, heathlands and grasslands. We will be sharing more about our carbon work, and the Great Fen in particular, in future articles of Wildlife@Work, so watch this space! In terms of what we’re doing to reduce our carbon emissions across our operations we have an updated sustainability policy, a new carbon reduction strategy and action plan, a dedicated Sustainability Manager and a staff-led group to oversee and drive initiatives across the organisation. We have staff who are passionate and committed to making a real difference to the environment. As a Trust, we recognise that by involving staff as much as possible to share ideas and set priorities is one of the keys to success. Through this group, we have set up a sustainability hub with guidance for staff, monthly eco tips, competitions and a host of other resources. Recent examples of action taken by the Trust, includes the transitioning of our power tools and some equipment we employ for our conservation management from petrol to battery and solar power (see images).

Julianna Griffiths

Henry Stanier

We are currently carrying out a review of our fleet vehicles to assess how best to transition these away from fossil fuels.

While we’ve had solar PVs at our HQ in Cambourne for over 10 years and a green roof at our Nene Wetlands Visitor Centre, we will continue to look at further ways to improve our energy efficiency and carbon reductions across our sites and activities and will provide updates on our progress.

*This included Covid lockdowns so it is likely that results for future years will be higher.

If you would like to find out more about this then please contact Sue Barnard, Sustainability Manager email: Sue.Barnard@wildlifebcn.org