Are lingering 'colonialist' attitudes deterring some non-white birders from exploring coast and countryside?

                                         

Britain is a beautiful place for birding - but not everyone feels welcome

HOW welcome are non-white birders - or prospective birders - in the British countryside?

The question is prompted by media reports this week that many may be put off by a perception that it is a "racist and colonial white space" where they will be made to feel unwelcome.

Both the Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph newspapers have  carried articles about  concerns expressed  to MPs  by the charity umbrella group Wildlife and Countryside Link - whose members include the RSPB.

      

Although overt racism is now thought to be uncommon in the British birding community, some from ethnic backgrounds sense it (as do some women) when they enter hides at nature reserves and find the reaction to their presence to be less than friendly.

Racism can also manifest itself in restaurants, pubs or hotels where they  have experienced "difficulties" being served.

Meanwhile, the RSPB is aware that it is  "under-represented by people of colour" and says it is "particularly interested" in applications from this section of society when it is recruiting for vacant jobs.

The Wildlife and Countryside Link's statement on diversity (plus its membership list) is below. 

  

Diversity and anti-racism statement

We recognise that our sector has not dealt with all forms of systemic racism. In fact, we are at risk of falling far behind. Recent movements such as #BlackLivesMatter, #BlackinNature, #CharitySoWhite, #BlackBirdersWeek and #BlackintheIvory have had a galvanising effect around the world, including within the environment sector.

We have a responsibility to be more proactive in our work against racism. Many of our organisations have programmes to champion Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, but we must do more. We have to listen and act upon what we learn, demonstrate solidarity with the anti-racism movement, and create accessible opportunities to enter, progress and lead in the sector.

We know as an environment and animal welfare movement we are not nearly representative of society. We must proactively diversify our sector, especially in leadership positions. We know that our culture and ways of working can still exclude many people and cultures and we must learn to overcome that. We know that our campaigns and conservation work does not always face up to the links with systemic and historical racism and we must reconsider the way we develop our strategies and work with others.

We also know that the impacts of pollution and other environmental problems often fall most heavily on minority ethnic communities, who are less likely to live in a healthy environment because of racial inequalities. We must continue to reinforce and add to our actions to ensure equitable access to a healthy environment.

While we are all at different stages of our journey we all commit to working much harder to remedy these shortcomings, not simply in response to the anti-racism movement, but because climate and environmental injustice are intrinsically linked to social justice. We must step up and change if we are to have the strength to fight for nature’s needs and people’s needs in every quarter. We owe it to society, we owe it to our supporters and stakeholders, and we owe it to our natural world.