Public urged to defend nature as new policies threaten nature, climate and food security

Devon Wildlife Trust is asking their members, supporters and the wider public to defend nature by contacting MPs and local councillors – both online and in person – to voice concerns over new Government proposal

Devon Wildlife Trust, alongside other nature charities, is extremely worried about announcements made by the Government that pose serious threats to nature, climate and food security.

Over the last few days, the Government has:

• Announced the Retained EU Law Bill – threatening to revoke hundreds of laws that protect wild places and ensure standards for water quality, pollution and the use of pesticides

• Announced a new planning and infrastructure bill as well as investment zones as part of the growth plan, which threaten to weaken vital protections for habitats and wildlife

•  Launched a ‘review’ of the long-awaited Environmental Land Management schemes – which were meant to reward farmers for restoring nature, preventing pollution from entering rivers and climate-proofing their businesses

• Lifted a ban on fracking in England, despite there being no evidence that proves fracking is safe

The proposals have caused outrage among green charities, politicians of all political persuasion, farmers, campaigners, and members of the public – many of whom feel anxious that the Government is not tackling the nature and climate crises with the urgency required.

A recent poll by the Climate Coalition – a group of leading environmental organisations and campaigners – found that only 23% of people felt the Government is doing enough to tackle the climate crisis. Polling carried out by Unchecked found that strong regulation is supported by voters – irrespective of which way they voted in the EU referendum.

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“Nature is under attack from a raft of dangerous decisions by Government and we know people are furious at the new threats. Vital legal protections for wildlife are at risk, fossil fuel extraction is being favoured over renewables, and the Government is going back on plans to reward farmers for managing land in a nature-friendly way.

“The Government’s Food Security Report 2021 identified climate change and biodiversity loss as the biggest threats to food production in future – so farming in harmony with nature must be encouraged – yet the Government wants deregulation that’ll lead to yet more poo in rivers, less wildlife and land that’s unable to adapt to climate change.

“We are calling on the public to contact their elected representatives and share just how concerned they are. These actions will affect us all – the communities where we live, our wild places, food security, and our futures. The climate and nature crises pose monumental challenges, and recent proposals by this Government will only make things worse.” 

Harry Barton, CEO Devon Wildlife Trust, says:

“The recent Government announcements could put us back decades in our efforts to protect nature and the climate. Senior UK Government representatives have recently referred to environmental protections as ‘burdens’, yet our economy depends on everything that nature provides – from food protection to clean air and water, and so much more. A healthy environment benefits our economy greatly, and nowhere is this clearer than in Devon with its £2.5 billion visitor spend.”

Devon Wildlife Trust argues that abandoning regulations that protect nature and creating low regulation ‘investment zones’ with few planning restrictions could decimate UK wildlife, which is already suffering steep declines.

Since 1970, more than 40% of species have declined in abundance, with 26% of mammals at risk of disappearing altogether. Every river and lake in England currently fails chemical pollution standards and only 16% are classed in good ecological health compared to 53% on average in the EU.

As things stand, Government ambition for nature’s recovery aims to have just 10% more nature in 2042 than 2030 levels – by which time the state of our natural world is expected to have declined even further. Earlier this year, The Wildlife Trusts wrote to the Prime Minister expressing serious concern and calling instead for a 20% increase on 2022 levels.

For more information, see: https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/defend-nature-0

To tweet to your MP, visit: www.wtru.st/DefendNatureTweet

#AttackOnNature. Photo copyright Luke Massey/2020VISION (All Rights Reserved)

2021 Food Security Report. The report sets out an analysis of statistical data relating to food security, fulfilling the duty in the Agriculture Act 2020 to present a report on food security to Parliament at least once every three years. Read the full report here.

The Climate Coalition. Research commissioned by The Climate Coalition – and released on 27^th September – shows 7 out of 10 Brits are anxious about the impact of climate change and only 23% believe the Government is doing enough to tackle the climate crisis. The impact of climate change is British parents’ biggest worry for their children’s futures.

 

Unchecked – Protect or deregulate? This research seeks to explore public attitudes to regulation. Read the full report here

 

State of Nature. The State of Nature 2019 report also revealed that 41% of UK species studied have declined, 26% have increased and 33% shown little change since 1970, while 133 species assessed have already been lost from our shores since 1500. Read the full report here.

Devon Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading environmental charity, with more than 36,000 members. The charity manages 60 nature reserves across Devon, including a range of beautiful landscapes such as woodlands, meadows, wetlands and heaths. Devon Wildlife Trust relies on charitable donations, grants and the generous support of its members and the general public to raise more than £5million every year. Money raised is spent maintaining our work for wildlife conservation and education in Devon, for present and future generations. More at www.devonwildlifetrust.org

Calls for ‘clarity and urgency’ from Government on plans for beavers

A charity which pioneered the reintroduction of beavers is now calling for greater clarity and urgency from the Government in relation to its national plans for the widespread return of the animals.

Devon Wildlife Trust says it welcomes the recent announcement from Government that Eurasian beavers will be given legal protection in England from 1st October 2022, and the publication of guidance in early September which outlines how beavers might be managed in the future.

However, the charity is concerned that the proposals lack ambition and detail. It warns that, in their current form, they will not deliver the widespread reintroduction of a species which scientific studies have shown can improve water quality in rivers, stabilise water flows during times of drought and flood, store carbon and boost other wildlife.(1)  

Harry Barton is Devon Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive. In 2015 the charity led a successful trial on the River Otter in Devon where England’s first wild population of beavers were reintroduced – 400 years after their extinction due to hunting and habitat loss. This trial was a great success and the Government subsequently agreed that the beavers on the River Otter could remain in the wild and spread naturally to other rivers. Harry said:

“A summer of record-breaking heat and drought has highlighted the urgency of making our landscapes more resilient to the unfolding climate emergency. Beavers have created green oases in our parched river valleys, because of their ability to store water through dam building and wetland creation.  And we know they can reduce peak flows in times of flood and help improve water quality. 

The Government’s recent announcements on protection for beavers and their management are good news, but they lack clarity and a sense of urgency.  We need a clear plan and timetable so these amazing animals can become part of the wildlife of rivers throughout England.”

The Wildlife Trusts and Beaver Trust is backing this call in a letter to Ranil Jayawadena, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This asks Government to make five key actions to ensure beaver reintroductions can take place on a scale and at a pace which will bring maximum advantage to wider society. These actions include:

1. Publishing an ambitious strategy and timeline for beaver reintroduction in English river catchments.
2. Reconsidering the proposals for funding beaver releases into the wild. At present these impose prohibitive levels of upfront costs on groups wanting to reintroduce beaver populations.
3. Establishing a system of financial support which will reward the farmers and landowners who provide space for beavers and their wetlands.
4. Putting in place and then resourcing a network of Beaver Management Groups across England to support farmers, landowners and local communities as new beaver populations become established.
5. Confirming the futures of existing wild living beaver populations (including the Tamar in Devon and the Stour in Kent) outside of the River Otter, Devon. 

Sandra King, Chief Executive of Beaver Trust, commented:

“Beavers bring such an astonishing array of ecosystem services to our landscape, this truly is an historic day for the species in England. It is thanks to the hard work and determination of pioneering individuals and wildlife organisations that the recovery of this once-native animal is able to celebrate this milestone.

“It remains urgent and vital that the Government delivers a clear, ambitious policy and licensing guidance to support beaver restoration in the wild.  At the end of the day, if we are to welcome beavers back as a native animal our primary objective must be to target positive coexistence with beavers. A properly resourced, forward looking strategy will enable land managers and communities to do this.”

Ali Morse, water policy manager of The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“The Government’s recent consultation on the future of beavers in England showed significant support for their widespread reintroduction. Of more than 3,000 responses nearly 70% were positive about Defra’s plans for the return of beavers. Even among the minority who objected the most common reason given was that the pace of Government plans for their return was too slow! (2)

The return of beavers to rivers across England has public support and is line with the Government's own commitments enshrined in its 25-year Environment Plan and the legally binding target of its Environment Act 2021 to halt nature’s decline. What we need now is action.”

Beaver female - Photo credit Mike Symes

Beaver kits - Photo credit Mike Symes

Beaver female with kits - Photo credit Mike Symes

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Footnotes.

• River Otter Beaver Trial: Science and Evidence Report > CLICK HERE 
• Consultation Outcome: summary of responses and next steps regarding the Government’s public consultation on the approach to the reintroduction of beavers in England> CLICK HERE 

About Devon Wildlife Trust: Devon Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading environmental charity, with more than 36,000 members. The charity manages 60 nature reserves across Devon, including a range of beautiful landscapes such as woodlands, meadows, wetlands and heaths. Devon Wildlife Trust relies on charitable donations, grants and the generous support of its members and the general public to raise more than £5million every year. Money raised is spent maintaining our work for wildlife conservation and education in Devon, for present and future generations. More at www.devonwildlifetrust.org