DATA Play 4 challenges
The value of nature
The natural environment is intrinsically intertwined in our daily lives, whether we’re aware of it or not. It helps to purify air and water, reduce flooding and noise and alleviates climate change.
The cost of last winter’s floods is estimated to be over £5 billion. Some 84 per cent of the crops grown for human consumption – around 400 different types of plants – need bees and other insects to pollinate. These include most fruits and vegetables, many nuts, and plants such as rapeseed and sunflowers that are turned into oil. Crops grown as fodder for dairy cows and other livestock are also pollinated by bees.
In the UK alone the value of pollinators is estimated to be in the order of £200 million. It’s known that house prices are higher in tree-lined streets and overlooking the sea. Nature provides a ‘Natural Health Service’ proven to improve mental and physical health – when poor mental health alone costs the economy an estimated £26.1 billion a year. There are social benefits in engagement with the natural environment including improved social cohesion, pride and confidence.
- How can we use technology creatively to highlight the value of nature and the outdoors?
Access to the natural environment
We’re in the midst of a public health crisis as people are less active than ever before. This affects physical and mental health so getting people outside and active will help to combat this.
Active Neighbourhoods, Poole Farm, Urban Buzz and the Plymouth Open Spaces Network are four exciting projects which are getting people engaged with the natural environment in Plymouth by supporting volunteering, training and community events.
All of these projects are promoted on Twitter @natureplymouth and Facebook Nature Plymouth.
- How can we use these forms of communication to engage with and get young people outdoors and active, whilst gaining enough data to evidence our impact?
More effective and/or community led management
Given that funding for green spaces, blue spaces, sports and play has reduced steadily over recent years, the need for sustainable development has never been more important.
- Using the data sets provided can you identify potential opportunities for locally based community enterprise that are innovative and help generate income to manage and improve the natural environment?
Climate change and low carbon opportunities
The Plymouth Plan looks to reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent and sets out an approach to manage a range of challenges from using sustainable energy sources, managing flood risk and protecting the natural environment.
There are also many existing projects in the city supporting sustainable food and energy initiatives that could benefit from new and innovative ways of mapping, monitoring and developing the work they’re doing.
- How could data and technology be used to support this work?
This work is supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government through Delivering Differently in Neighbourhoods funding and Local Planning Reform funding.