Breaking new ground

BUILDING A DIGITAL FUTURE FOR OUR NATIONAL PARKS

A UK leading communications company has teamed up with the UK's 15 National Parks to announce a new three-year partnership that will use the power of their network and cutting-edge technology to help protect ecosystems, engage local communities, and support the future of the Parks.

Vodaphone's innovative approach of deploying AI-driven habitat mapping across all 15 parks will allow for the collection of critical habitat and biodiversity data in record time. They will also introduce real-time, high-resolution data streams to track biodiversity, visitor impact, and overall habitat health, building on the success of their recent 'network-as-a-sensor trial' used for flood forecasting along the River Severn.

Another programme of digital initiatives are designed to support access to nature and drive awareness of the benefits it can bring by increase engagement with the natural world, making the National Parks more accessible and supporting the existing 90 million annual visitors as they explore everything the National Parks have to offer.

The partnership reflects growing public demand for corporate action on the environment. New research commissioned by Vodafone, to mark the launch and better understand the public's relationship with nature, revealed that despite 82% of people admitting they want to spend more time in the great outdoors, just 8% of Brits are able to spend time in nature on a daily basis. More than half (55%) use technology to engage with nature when they can't physically be there, with younger generations the most likely to do so. Nearly 80% of those surveyed think companies can help by supporting tech-driven solutions (47%), habitat restoration (45%), or improving public access (40%). With this partnership, Vodafone is contributing to the protection and restoration of nature and aligning with its own commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.

Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, Vodafone UK, said: "Importantly, our research not only shows that people want to engage more with nature, but that they expect businesses to play their part too, so we are proud to help meet that challenge."

Tony Gates, Chief Executive of Northumberland National Park said: "National Parks are best known for their beauty, but their value goes beyond what you see - they have the potential to help address the three great challenges of our age - the climate crisis, the biodiversity crisis and the health and well-being crisis. Through targeted programmes to recover nature, adapt landscapes to the changing climate and help people be and feel more connected to nature, our National parks have a vital role to play."