Despite the rapid destruction of the post-war years, the UK still possesses a rich and diverse collection of species and habitats. For two decades Friends of the Earth has been at the forefront of the battle to preserve the few precious wild places that have not already been lost to urban sprawl, road-building, over-abstraction of water, acid rain, quarrying and damaging agricultural practices.

The UK's last precious fragments of woods, bogs, heathlands and meadows are lifeboats that sustain our threatened animals and plants. Every year over 300 of our most important wildlife areas are damaged according to official information. This toll of destruction is set to continue as hundreds more are under threat. Our most important wildlife sites are called SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest). There are over 6,500 in all, but in the last five years 19% of those in England and Wales alone have been damaged according to official statistics.

Through its unique network of local groups and through building national alliances with other non-governmental organisations and protesters, Friends of the Earth has successfully supported many local communities in their peaceful struggle to save threatened wild places, always proposing practical alternatives to potentially damaging activities. Sites saved include Asham Wood SSSI, Ballynahone Bog ASSI, Canford Heath SSSI (safeguarding the future of the resident Sand Lizards) and Red Moss SSSI.

Friends of the Earth is campaigning to improve legal protection of wildlife including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) as part of a joint initiative with all the major conservation organisations in the UK under the banner of Wildlife and Countryside Link. These orgnisations have drafted a Wildlife Charter which details the changes that must be made to the law if the Government is to meet its own commitment to 'improve protection for wildlife'. Friends of the Earth is calling on MPs to support the Charter.

Friends of the Earth is campaigning to:

.    Gain more effective protection for the UK's top Biodiversity sites through promotion of the Wildlife Charter.

.    To protect threatened sites in their local areas through our local groups network.

Did you Know?

.    Since the 1940's we have lost at least 95% of our flower-rich meadows, 50% of our ancient woodlands and 50% of our wetlands such as fens and marshes. Over 368,000 kilometres of our hedgerows have been dug up.

.    The UK currently has at least 3600 endangered, rare or vulnerable species including the sand lizard, Northern knotgrass, the basking shark and the bittern.

.    Please write to your MP asking them to support Friends of the Earth's wildlife charter.

.    Don't encourage more road building: walk, cycle and use public transport.

.    Don't use peat. Help save our peatbogs by buying peat alternatives, now widely available from garden centres.

.    Use less water at home.

.    Reduce the impact of acid rain - cut down on energy use and support renewables.

.    Join Friends of the Earth and find out how you can support its campaigns to protect the countryside. If an area near you is under threat, take action locally by joining your local FoE group.

Further Information

Check out our Wild Places web site to find out about threatened wild places in your local area and further information on Friends of the Earth's Wild Places campaign. http://www.foe.co.uk/wildplaces/

Biodiversity Challenge, 'An agenda for conservation in the UK.' Written by Butterfly Conservation, FoE, Plantlife, The Wildlife Trusts, RSPB & WWF. 2nd Edition (1995), L336; £20.00, 285pp.

Wildlife Planning and Development L372 free

High and Dry, (The Impacts of Over-Abstraction on Wildlife.. L400 £5.00 report, 40p.

Gaining Interest, discusses the laws supposedly protecting UK wildlife habitats and possible changes to make them more effective. L334; £6.00, 21pp.

Losing Interest, a survey of threats to SSSI's in England & Wales, listing them by county & describing the type & degree of threats facing each one.T333; £12.00, 120pp.

Saving Wildlife Sites, A Practical Guide. £4.50, 48pp. L342

Wildlife Law: Time for Reform October 1997 L 431 Free briefing A4 6pp