Government wildlife protection lacks action25 August 2011
England is one of the first countries to announce a national strategy to protect its wildlife. But is it enough?
Biodiversity 2020 launched last week - after Ministers made a ground-breaking commitment to save wildlife at last year's Convention on Biological Diversity conference.
The strategy seeks to rescue rapidly disappearing species and habitats over the next ten years. It includes creating new and bigger wildlife sites and preserving existing ones.
Vague policy
Friends of the Earth's Executive Director, Andy Atkins, says the Government isn't doing enough to protect nature.
New targets to protect wildlife are a start but we need bold action to meet them. So far the plans have been vague.
Andy Atkins, Director, Friends of the Earth
Home and abroad
Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to introduce policies that protect nature globally - from native birds in Britain to wildlife in the rainforests.
In particular we need:
- Reform of the EU Common Agricultural Policy
to support planet-friendly farming. - An environmentally friendly Planning Policy
that puts people and nature ahead of land-grabbing development.
Did you know?
- Species now disappear at over 1,000 times the natural extinction rate.
- In 2008 alone, we lost 717 animal species.
- Right now, beluga whale, koala bear and staghorn coral numbers are shrinking at an alarming rate.
