The mayor of the city of Bristol Marvin Rees, along with leaders from local organizations, declared an ecological emergency in the city. The city council said some bird species such as swifts and starlings had almost entirely vanished from Bristol. As in many cities and towns across the UK, there have also been worrying losses of bees and other insects, as well as mammals including hedgehogs and bats.
Mayor Rees explained priorities include looking at ways to prevent wildlife habitats from being destroyed and creating and caring for wildlife-rich spaces in every part of the city, “Our commitment to this will extend beyond parks and green spaces. We need our buildings, streets and open spaces to support wildlife and create a more nature-friendly city, and we need new developments to do the same.”
