Posted by:Aisling Lannin, MMO Marine Pioneer, Posted on:8 May

‘I was excited when the 25 Year Environment Plan (25YEP) was launched by the Prime Minister in January. The plan sets out the government’s long term commitment to enhance nature, increase stewardship and empower people to work together to achieve more for the environment in England. The reasoning behind this is that the natural environment is the basis of people’s health, wellbeing and prosperity! Making this connection explicit in people’s minds and activities is a big progression. I can feel a change toward a new phase where people and nature are considered as a highly connected system which benefits and affects both in strong ways we all should take into consideration.

This is different to how we have thought about, interacted with, and especially how we have managed, the marine environment up to now. I feel lucky to be involved in exploring how to deliver some of these new approaches to managing. I am the programme lead for the Marine Pioneer which is one of four pioneer programmes set up by Defra and its delivery bodies to innovate delivery of the 25YEP.

The plan highlights how reliant on nature we are and agreeing our responsibilities toward it is a crucial job. This requires lots of people working together in partnership. The marine pioneer has two partnerships working in Suffolk and North Devon and involves policy, evidence and delivery people from all over the country. Here are some of the people already involved.’ To read more click here