RSPB warns of nature disaster if UK Government fail on vital laws protecting wildlife

The RSPB has weighed in to the Tory leadership contest saying that the anti-regulation rhetoric that has characterised the debates is nonsense when it comes to protecting nature. 

The national wildlife charity has revealed four recent examples where nature is under direct threat from potential changes to legislation and the bodies that enforce legislation:  

• Pledges to scrap EU-derived laws. The habitat regulations are one such set of laws but have been vital in the protection of nature for the past thirty years, quietly steering development away from our most important wildlife habitats and protecting some of our most vulnerable species like stone curlews and Dartford warblers. They provide clarity and certainty for landowners and business and, after three decades, are well understood. [See “At a Glance” Box below for examples]
• The apparent attempt to relax planning laws around freeports in areas that take in some of our most precious landscapes such as Dartmoor, the North York Moors, and the New Forest.
• Plans to scrap nutrient neutrality guidance. If this is done, it will allow damaging developments to push already polluted streams and rivers to the brink, with yet more sewage and pollution ending up in our rivers.
• Talk of absorbing arm’s length bodies such as Natural England (NE) in to Defra and reference to them as “not fit for purpose”.  NE plays a vital role in protecting biodiversity and our most important habitats, whilst providing benefits to people’s health and wellbeing by promoting responsible access to nature and the outdoors. Its role as a Government “arm’s length body” is to advise on environmental matters and challenge others – including Government themselves - to ensure that environmental standards are maintained. We have never needed that more than today.

Beccy Speight, chief executive of the RSPB, said: “Strong laws and properly supported agencies are vital to safeguard the precious wildlife we have left in the UK, and both need to be reinforced not weakened.

The RSPB adds that deregulation would not be popular amongst voters of any persuasion. Research conducted by Unchecked UK shows that support for common-sense nature protections is strong among voters in every constituency.

The RSPB also fears the loss of independent advocates for nature whose purpose is to provide critical advice. It says that instead of suggestions that Natural England (NE) be absorbed into Defra, the Government needs to invest in making its independent scientific advisor on nature stronger. 

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