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New Law Call as Wildlife Watchdog Report Published
26 July 1998
An important House of Commons report published today [Saturday 25 July, 1998] on the performance of Government wildlife watchdog English Nature has shown the need to change wildlife laws and provide new money to help the struggling agency become more effective. Friends of the Earth has welcomed the report and urged the Government to introduce new wildlife laws as a matter of urgency.
The report from the Commons Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee concludes that English Nature "is doing an acceptable job under difficult circumstances" but it says that the Government must address the protection of the UK's best wildlife areas,Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), in a 'comprehensive manner' in its forthcoming consultation on the subject. The consultation is expected before the Summer recess.
Friends of the Earth has called for new wildlife laws to give English Nature and its sister wildlife organisations in the rest of the UK the powers fully to protect SSSIs The Committee endorses this view, recommending urgent legal changes for example to allow agency staff a right of access to SSSI land.
Matt Phillips, Wildlife Campaigner of Friends of the Earth said:
"We all know English Nature could do more, but without the right powers and the right money its prospects are poor. This influential committee has called for English Nature to champion wildlife - a call we would endorse - but it recognises that the big problems lie with weak laws and conflicting policies like the CAP.The ball is now in the Government's court. People do not want to see a further erosion of Britain's wildlife heritage, to reverse the trend the Government must push for new wildlife laws as a matter of urgency."
For more information on the best UK wildlife sites, visit FOE's Wildplaces! Website.
ENDS
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
