Mayor calls for urgent response to declines in birds, bees and mammals such as hedgehogs

The local decline of many birds, insects and some mammals has prompted Bristol to declare an ecological emergency.

The mayor, Marvin Rees, and leaders from local organisations and attractions met on a hill in the city on Tuesday to make the declaration.

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.

Two years ago Bristol became the first UK authority to declare a climate emergency. Over the next few months a plan will be developed to tackle the ecological emergency, and the hope is that the eye-catching announcement will prompt organisations to take action.

Rees said: “It is not too late to start the recovery of our wildlife. We must work together to grasp this last chance and put things right for nature and wildlife in our city. This declaration will provide a focus for the whole city to come together and take positive action.

“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.”

Priorities will 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.

Organisations represented at the declaration included a hospital trust, an NHS commissioning group, a university, Bristol zoo, the science and arts centre We The Curious, and the SS Great Britain.

Ian Barrett, the chief executive of Avon Wildlife Trust, said the climate and ecological emergencies were being felt everywhere.

“We can’t wait for national governments or international bodies to lead the way, we have to show that through collective action we can make Bristol a city where wildlife can thrive and the natural world can flourish,” he said. “This is about stopping the loss forever of much-loved species which were once common in gardens, parks, waterside and green spaces across the city – swifts, starlings, hedgehogs and butterflies.”

Carla Denyer, a Green councillor in Bristol, said: “Just as we know there are things we can do now to tackle the climate emergency without the need to set up new boards and committees to commission lengthy studies, so also we know that there are things we can do right now to tackle the ecological emergency.

“One of those is rewilding – recreating areas of natural habitat for plants and animals that are important to a balanced ecosystem. In Bristol that might mean areas of our parks are less manicured, but it also means repurposing road verges and maybe even bus stop roofs.”

Some green campaigners have criticised the council for not opposing plans to expand Bristol airport. The neighbouring North Somerset council is due to discuss the plans on Monday.

The Bristol band Massive Attack are among those who have called on both authorities to fight against the plan. Bristol council has no official position on the scheme.