Global boost for scheme that pairs politicians with threatened species - University of Exeter

A scheme that pairs politicians with threatened or iconic species or habitats will receive global attention at the World Economic Forum in Davos today (Thursday 22 January 2026).

For over a decade, Nature Champions – pioneered in Scotland by environmental charity Scottish Environment LINK – has been encouraging parliamentarians to become a visible, accountable “champion” for their chosen species or habitat.

In this role, politicians work alongside conservation experts to understand real threats, policy barriers and practical solutions.

The award-winning initiative has been a huge success since its launch in 2013, with 80% of Members of the Scottish Parliament becoming Nature Champions for Scotland’s native wildlife – representing everything from the blue whale and bilberry bumblebee to the ash tree and ancient woodlands. It has also inspired similar programmes in the Welsh Parliament (Senedd Cymru) and the UK Parliament.

Today in Davos, Scottish Environment LINK and the University of Exeter’s Nature & Climate Impact Team (NCIT) are unveiling Nature Champions Worldwide – a project that will share this successful model with governments and civic institutions around the world.

Dr Deborah Long, Chief Officer at Scottish Environment LINK said: “The Nature Champions initiative has seen parliamentarians climb mountains in search of bees, wade across rivers for endangered mussels, attend night-time bat surveys and even abseil from trees in support of our extraordinary species and habitats. However, being a Nature Champion isn’t just about experiencing the treasures of our natural environment, it’s also about helping to raise awareness and promote action in Parliament. For more than a decade, Nature Champions have been helping to give nature a voice in Parliament – a voice that is so greatly needed in the context of both the nature and climate emergencies.”