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Weedy wildlife laws threaten right to roam
5 June 1998
The UK's ineffective wildlife laws give inadequate protection to our most important wildlife sites. Every year over 300 of the UK's most important wildlife areas, Sites of Special Scientific Interest are lost or damaged. Official data show that between 1991/92 and 1995/96 in England and Wales 141 SSSIs were damaged by 'recreational activity'.
New Labour has yet to propose a single Green Bill, and FOE is demanding a new Wildlife Protection Bill to be included in the next Queen's Speech. The Wildlife Charter published by 22 environmental organisations has also proposed measures to resolve possible conflicts between wildlife protection and a Right to Roam, including powers for the Government's wildlife agencies (such as English Nature) to issue bye laws on all SSSIs.
Commenting, Matt Phillips, wildlife campaigner of Friends of the Earth said:
"The UK's wildlife laws are too weedy to cope with a Right to Roam, much as we support that important principle. A new law for wider access must be matched by a new law to ensure wildlife sites are protected. Labour promised to put the environment at the heart of Government. But we need action. If Labour is serious about safeguarding our best wildlife sites it must introduce a tough new Wildlife Bill in the next Queen's Speech".
Visit Friends of the Earth's Wildplaces! website for details of threatened/damaged SSSIs across Great Britain.
If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
