Help save nature: Ask CoE to rewild their massive landholdings

Archbishop Justin Welby - image Lambeth Palace

What would Jesus do if he owned 105,000 acres (60,000 football pitches) of land? Would he farm it for profit, or would he use it to restore forests, wetlands and meadows to help save our vanishing wildlife?

This is the dilemma faced by the Church of England whose wealthy and secretive investment arm - the Church Commissioners - own just such an impressive amount of land throughout England. In total the estate is worth over £10bn! Forget the churchyards - they're just the tip of the iceberg.

But whilst 13% of the UK is woodland, only 4% of this Church land is covered by trees!

Meanwhile, other measurements of nature's health (SSSIs) suggest the land has even less space for nature than other big landowners have.

As one of the biggest institutional landowners in one of the world's most nature depleted countries, this is a BIG problem.

In a message to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, campaigners state: "The Church of England, which you head, has acknowledged the important role it plays in protecting all of God's creation from the climate and biodiversity crises, and yet the 105,000 acres of land under the control of the Church Commissioners are still part of the problem not the solution.

"You have the power to call on your Church Commissioners to rewild some of this land and commit to making the Church a pioneering voice in combating climate change and biodiversity loss.

"The UN has estimated that to face the threat of environmental collapse we need to rewild 30% of land globally by 2030. By pledging to meet the UN's target and rewilding 30% of land held by the Church Commissioners you would be able to restore nature to land over half the size of Dartmoor! It would send a huge and powerful signal to landowners and governments around the world and could inspire a wave of rewilding action.

"Calling on the Church Commissioners to rewild 30% of their land would be an act of good stewardship for both people and nature, actively working towards a future more liveable for all. Justin Welby, will you invest in nature and rewild your land?"

We will deliver our petition, alongside our new '95 Wild Theses', at a gathering outside St Paul's Cathedral in London.

Sign the petition here: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/help-save-nature-by-rewilding-the-church-s-massive-landholdings