Sir David Attenborough has cautioned that humans have only a “few short years” to make a “choice” about how to restore the natural world.
The famous 96-year-old scientist and presenter was speaking in a new BBC iPlayer programme about people attempting to counteract nature’s decline, as well as animals and ecosystems at risk in the UK.
Sir David said in Saving Our Wild Isles, “In this film, we’ll meet inspiring people, young and old, who are working to restore the natural world, and we’ll discover that we all urgently need to repair our relationship with the natural world.”
‘We now have a few short years during which we can still make a choice, where just enough remains of the natural world for it to recover.
‘This starts and ends with us.’
The film was created by Silverback Films, the company behind many of the BBC’s landmark wildlife programs, and was financed by charities WWF, the National Trust, and the RSPB.
Sir David’s most recent documentary series, Wild Isles, which highlights the environmental marvels of the UK and Ireland, concluded on Sunday.
The new video examines how a Suffolk farm is boosting biodiversity by sowing wildflowers and restoring waterways, how fishing practises affect a puffin rearing their chick, and how wildlife is being recovered in the Cairngorms National Park.
Outside the documentary, Sir David said: ‘Whilst it’s tempting to think of those on the frontline as the only ones who can make a difference, the truth is, every one of us, no matter where we live, can and must play a part in restoring nature to our isles.
‘Never has it been more important to do this for ourselves and for our wildlife.’
The RSPB, WWF, and National Trust started the Save Our Wild Isles campaign last month, imploring everyone in society to band together to stop the destruction of UK environment and take immediate action to save it.
In a joint statement, Beccy Speight, RSPB chief executive, Tanya Steele, WWF chief executive and Hilary McGrady, National Trust director general, said: ‘The scale of the crisis facing UK nature demands that all of us, from all parts of society, take action.’
They added: ‘Incredible work is happening in every corner of the UK, but to turn the nature crisis around requires all of us to play our part.
‘Inspired by the landmark Wild Isles series, we came together to bring to life and celebrate these stories in an effort to inspire more people, businesses and leaders to pick up the baton.’
Saving Our Wild Isles will be on BBC iPlayer from 8pm on Sunday April 9.
