How groups are fighting together for a common cause
Charities and NGOs are increasingly campaigning together to battle threats to the environment.
An increasing feature of the environment sector has been the willingness of groups to combine to fight for a common cause.
A range of groups have got together to take a stand over the proposed destruction of precious habitat in the Highlands
And a radical new coalition has been formed to push for reform of Scotland’s grouse moors.
The Coul partnership brings together seven groups – Buglife, Butterfly Conservation, the Marine Conservation Society, National Trust for Scotland, Plantlife, RSPB Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
They are making a stand to stop the devastating environmental impact that would be caused by a planned golf course.
The Scottish Government is currently considering whether to grant planning permission for the course at Coul Links near Embo in East Sutherland.
After previous defeats, most notably the decision to allow the Trump Organisation to develop dunes for a golf course in Aberdeen, the groups see unity as key to securing a major win – and to set down a marker for the future.
Aedán Smith, head of planning and development at RSPB Scotland, told TFN: “Sometimes an issues is so important it brings everyone together. The fact that so many diverse conservation organisations have come together to try and save Coul Links illustrates just how important this very special place is for such a wide range of wildlife.
“Although, our organisations work together frequently on a range of issues, the last development threat to inspire such wide ranging opposition was perhaps when Donald Trump proposed his infamous golf course in Aberdeenshire. If anything, the sensitivity and importance of the site at Coul Links is even greater than the site Donald Trump has now built over in Aberdeenshire.”
Bruce Wilson, public affairs manager at the Scottish Wildlife Trust, outlined the benefits of co-operation: “All charities have limited resources so it’s important to create partnerships to achieve common goals. When major threats such as Coul Links arise we need to seek out allies, pool resources and present a united front.
“Working together to advocate for a healthy natural environment has an impact that is greater than the sum of its parts.”
The newly launched Revive Coalition unites groups across the social, environmental and animal welfare sectors to launch a challenge to the intensive management of land across vast swathes of Scotland’s uplands, where land is intensively managed so grouse can be shot for sport.
The coalition includes OneKind, Friends of the Earth Scotland, League Against Cruel Sports, Raptor Persecution UK and CommonWeal.
Revive senior campaigner Max Wiszniewski told TFN of the benefits of joint campaigning, saying it’s an approach that can work throughout the third sector.
He said: "Charities seem to have a love-hate relationships with coalitions but when they work they are certainly a force to be reckoned with and we are confident the Revive Coalition will be just that.
"It is unusual for charities across the spectrum of social justice, animal welfare and the environmental sectors to work together but in our case, the partners came together with no hesitation.
"Doing this with such a strong delegation of charities working together makes us more far more influential and that, we believe, is the key to success."
The Revive campaign will be a long one – but the success of the Coul coalition will be known next year.
Campaigning has already forced a public inquiry, which will start on 25 February and could last up to five weeks.
