A thriving natural environment underpins a healthy and resilient society and economy, and the event coincided with the publication of the West of England’s State of Nature report, the most ambitious and comprehensive study of the region’s wildlife ever undertaken.

The State of Nature report highlights where habitats are under pressure and where urgent action is needed to reverse species decline, and is accompanied by a new £5 million Nature Fund for Local Nature Recovery Strategy projects that reverse biodiversity decline, connect habitats, and connect people with nature.

Collectively the private sector can have significant impact on nature’s recovery, whether directly through land, water, and raw materials, or indirectly through supply chains, workforce health, resilient infrastructure and the quality of the places in which people work. Understanding these dependencies and impacts underpins long-term business success.

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:

"The West of England is already the fastest-growing regional economy, and known as the natural home of new green jobs. We know that nature‑positive approaches by businesses can help deliver economic growth while addressing the threat of nature loss.

“Nature recovery cannot be delivered by any single organisation alone. Business leaders from around the West know that and are on board with how we can collectively ensure our region remains a place where both nature, and people, can thrive.”

Kerry McCarthy, MP for Bristol East, who welcomed attendees to her constituency, said:

"The report shows the urgency of the need to protect habitats, enhance biodiversity and, increasingly, build our resilience to climate change. Used wisely, the £5 million Nature Fund could help catalyse millions more in investment in nature recovery in the West of England, with a mixture of public, private and philanthropic funding.

We have the expertise in our region – and so many potential projects, from our wetlands to our woodlands - to show the rest of the UK how this can be done.”

Emma Howard Boyd CBE, Chair of the National Heat Risk Assessment Commission and former Chair of the Environment Agency, said:

"Nature is not a luxury; it is our most fundamental form of critical infrastructure. Businesses depend on healthy ecosystems for water, land, and resilient communities. The West of England's State of Nature report turns ambition into a business case, making the risks of inaction and the returns on restoration clear.

"The Mayor's £5 million Nature Fund is an important demonstration of leadership that can help unlock far larger private and philanthropic capital. A strong pipeline of credible projects will attract new partners, proving that nature recovery drives growth, climate resilience, and long-term prosperity.”

Sumita Hutchison, Chair, West of England Nature Partnership said:

“The West of England State of Nature Report 2026 gives us the clearest picture we have ever had of our region’s wildlife — and it is a call to action. There are wonderful businesses in this region who already understand the critical value of nature in securing our economy, our resilience, and our future.

Today’s roundtable and this £5 million investment from the West of England Combined Authority are the catalyst to unlocking that potential. The West of England has every opportunity to set an example — not just for the country, but for the world — of what it looks like when a region truly comes together around something this critical.”

Ross Fairley, Senior Partner Burges Salmon, which has its headquarters in the West of England said:

“I am delighted that we were able to host the launch of the State of Nature Report.  We are committed to being a responsible business and our view is contributing to nature recovery makes business sense.

We set out to demonstrate and stimulate this last year with the pioneering deal that we did with Oxygen Conservation investing in nature recovery and we know other law firms are looking at this.”

Richard Whitehead, Chief Executive of AECOM in Europe and India, said:

“We welcome the launch of this report, which will play an important role in identifying and accelerating nature-based investment opportunities across the West of England, supporting regional priorities for growth, infrastructure and economic development.

“At AECOM, we work with clients globally to embed biodiversity into their operations and drive nature recovery, including through our work with WECA on a range of sustainable transport projects. Collaboration and open communication will be critical to ensuring nature-based solutions reflect local ecosystems and communities, delivering the best outcomes for each place. We’re pleased to be part of the conversation on how this can be achieved in the West of England.”

Leah Ramoutar, Director of Environmental Sustainability at Aviva, said:

"A healthy and well-functioning natural world underpins the resilience of our economies, infrastructure and communities. As nature comes under increasing pressure, the physical impacts of climate change are often exacerbated, as degraded natural systems are less able to absorb shocks, including from flooding and other extreme weather.

As the UK’s largest diversified insurer, both we and our customers are exposed to these risks. Supporting investment in nature is an important part of the response, helping to manage risk today while building long-term resilience for our customers, communities and the wider economy.  We welcome this State of Nature report for the West of England, which provides an important evidence base on the condition of nature and its implications for resilience in the region.”

In May, His Majesty The King joined a meeting with the Environment Secretary; the Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor on Business, Investment and Trade; senior business leaders; and representatives from the Council for Sustainable Business to hear more about efforts from boardrooms to prioritise nature.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has followed this with a suite of board-level resources, designed to support strategic discussions on how nature can provide financial opportunities.

Produced in partnership with the Council for Sustainable Business, the Green Finance Institute, the Aldersgate Group, and the Institute for Sustainability and Environmental Professionals, the resources include a video featuring His Majesty and Sir David Attenborough, demonstrating where nature action has delivered material and financial benefits for business performance.

The State of Nature report is the product of real collaboration between the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and fellow organisations across WENP and comes during the Natural History Consortium’s annual Festival of Nature, the UK’s largest free celebration of the natural world.

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