Saving the small things that run the planetEquality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are crucial for Buglife; embracing EDI strengthens Buglife’s conservation efforts, making them more effective, relevant, and ethical.
EDI relies on adherence to principles and practices aimed at creating an environment where everyone is treated fairly, respectfully, and without bias. These principles promote the inclusion of individuals from diverse backgrounds, regardless of factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics.
Our aim for EDI as set out in our strategy is that “We will take steps to ensure that opportunities at Buglife are accessible to the full diversity of people and we will play our part in building a conservation sector that is more strongly representative of all cultures and backgrounds”.
Achieving this aim across our staff, volunteers, trustee board and membership will:
One of the key EDI issues facing the nature conservation sector is its lack of ethnic diversity. A review by Students Organising for Sustainability found that in 2021 only 4.8% of environment professionals were people of colour, compared to 12.6% of the workforce overall, making the environment sector the second least ethnically diverse sector in the UK (after farming).
In response as a sector Buglife worked with partners, coordinated by Wildlife and Countryside Link, to produce a ‘Route map towards greater ethnic diversity’.
Alongside more than 42 other environmental organisations Buglife is committed to achieving the outcomes of the WCL route map to create a more ethnically diverse and inclusive environment movement. Organisations across the sector may take different paths to achieve these changes, but we are united in our conviction that change is necessary. We intend to create a more inclusive culture and more inclusive ways of working, to address racism and barriers to progress for people of colour, and to increase our ethnic diversity. We are determined to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be part of our vital environmental mission.
