In the world of conservation there always seems to be issues of compromise. This takes many forms, either because of limited funding, lack of opportunity or willpower, or placing human ‘needs’ (i.e. ‘development’) before that of the natural world. Because of the need for support, funding and willpower, engaging the general public with the natural world has never been more important. Natural History television programming, in particular Sir D. Attenborough, has engaged and enthralled millions of viewers, and whilst it could be argued that general support and interest in wildlife and the environment is up, those on the front line of conservation are still facing an uphill battle. So perhaps there needs to be a more direct approach, i.e. getting people into the outdoors and interacting, experiencing and learning about wildlife and nature directly. That’s certainly the prevailing ideology at this time, and rightly so, but with it comes another set of compromises, this one between conservation and access.
This is particularly pertinent to my work on the Broads. This place perfectly highlights the balance that needs to be struck between encouraging people to come and experience wildlife, whilst appreciating the pressures that accompany such access. Having just experienced half term, it struck me that nowhere else would you find such a combination of holiday makers: elderly couples here for the tranquil waterways and slower pace of life, families wanting to mess around on boats, wildlife watchers hoping to catch a glimpse of otters, kingfishers and marsh harriers, and groups of young people or stag and hen dos, drunk, careless, enjoying the sunshine and speeding along a river. This diversity naturally creates conflict, both between different groups of users, as well as for different stakeholders in the broads themselves. I find myself constantly reminding booze-cruisers that this is a nature reserve, not a toilet or a rubbish dump, as well as watching middle aged men speed past on oversized boats, with clear disregard for any kind of speed limits on the river. I’m never sure if this is machismo, ignorance of the reasons for the speed limits, or arrogance.
However this compromise also creates opportunities. The reason the Broads is such a popular tourist destination and so beloved by all kinds of people is because it is such a wonderful place for wildlife. Even if people aren’t consciously on the lookout for it, the whole landscape of the Broads is one dominated by things other than humans, things which aren’t built by human hands (well, not exactly!). But how to get through to people, how to spread the message that their actions affect the place they’ve come to see, and their support and contributions can make it a better place. Of course this isn’t just an issue with conservation, but with any kind of social endeavour. How to make people see that they do have the power to collectively improve the world, without seeming condescending, patronising, or meddling? I eagerly await people’s suggestions.