The Columbans held a ‘rewilding event’ at its Solihull headquarters in the Midlands on 30 September. What is a ‘rewilding event’?
Rewilding aims to restore healthy ecosystems by creating wild, biodiverse spaces, which allow a variety of life to thrive. It rebuilds ecosystems that have previously been modified by human disturbance, using the plant and animal life that would have been present had the disturbance never occurred. In doing so, rewilding restores the natural processes that provide humanity with clean air, water, food, shelter and medicine. And it creates spaces for wildlife to thrive.
This is very important in the UK, which is one of the most nature-depleted areas in the world. Nature is essential for our survival, and fundamental to our well-being, but the UK has seen biodiversity declining at unprecedented rates with over 10,000 mammals, plants, birds and insects in the UK threatened with extinction. And the UK is also way off track for meeting its own nature targets.
So, what happened at St. Columban’s, Solihull, on the 30th September?
There was a celebration of new bee hives, highlighting their role in pollinating flowering plants and contributing to food production. There were discussions about the wildlife-friendly habitats that have been created with tree planting and a wildflower garden. Alongside this there was information about the Columbans’ tree growing project in the Philippines and Columban environmental stewardship work in Pakistan.
A highlight of the event was The Columbans official welcome by A Rocha as a ‘Partner in Action’. Columban Director in Britain, Fr. John Boles was presented a plaque by a representative of A Rocha, Felicite Dodd.
Making peace with nature is integral to Columban Mission. Hearing the “cry of Earth and the cry of the poor” – according to the 2015 papal encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ – is essential to living the Gospel. Columbans have been prophetic by saying, “our missionary identity and spirituality impel us to living intimately with vulnerable people and the wounded Earth.” Twenty years ago, Columban eco-theologian Sean McDonagh pleaded for the protection of habitats such as coral reefs and forests in his book, ‘The Death of Life: Extinction is forever.’ He helped our Columban Society to understand that creation is defined more by the “community of life” rather than by any one species.
Internationally, ‘Peace with Nature’ was the theme of the United Nations 12-day Biodiversity summit (COP16) which recently concluded in Colombia. Columbans were represented at this important international gathering to discuss the nature crisis. It is not as high profile as the annual climate summit which takes place later this month and will get more media attention, but its task is just as critical. The two crises are deeply connected and both must be tackled.
Columbans were part of the Faiths for Biodiversity coalition at COP16 which urged countries to deliver clear and ambitious signs of implementing targets agreed by nations at COP15 in 2022. That landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework established global targets needing immediate action to conserve at least 30% of lands and waters globally by 2030.
Amy Echeverria, the U.S.-based Columban International Coordinator for Justice, Peace, and Ecology who attended the conference, reported that, “the voices of Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, Women, Youth, and Faith were strong and clear and even as countries continue to struggle to find consensus, civil society is getting on with the work to care for the world’s cultural and biological diversity.” At the end the Faiths Coalition welcomed stronger commitments by nations towards protecting indigenous peoples, conserving marine and coastal biodiversity and tackling Biodiversity and Climate issues in tandem.
A Vatican delegation attended the conference, including the Colombian Nuncio and representatives of Latin America’s bishops. More than 20 side events were organised by creation care campaigners in the Catholic Church, including Pax Christi and the Laudato Si’ Movement. Also, REPAM – the Catholic Church network that promotes the rights and dignity of people living in the Amazon and whose co-ordinator of indigenous and human rights work is an Irish Columban who has worked in Peru for nearly 60 years – Fr Peter Hughes. It ran a side event on indigenous peoples’ rights and biodiversity in Amazonia in the light of Laudato Si’’. Caritas in El Salvador highlighted the dangers facing environmental defenders. The Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace and Passionists International held a side event on ‘Mining, Water and Biodiversity.’
Back in Britain, Columbans are part of Zero Hour’s campaign for a new Climate and Nature Bill. It is the only proposed legislation before the UK Parliament that ensures a comprehensive and joined-up approach to the emergency. The lobby aims to protect and restore nature, boost nature-friendly farming and keep Earth-warming fossil fuels in the ground. It supports bold action, like renationalising water to clean up our rivers and stop shareholders profiting from pollution, providing more local food growing opportunities, and researching nature-friendly lighting and housing. If we can achieve these things then our quality of life, our mental health, and our optimism about the future will all benefit beyond measure. But it won’t be easy and there is no time to lose.
