Archived press release

Tropical Rainforest Countries alerted to Newbury destruction

2 February 1996

Friends of the Earth has today written to the London Ambassadors of the world's top ten tropical rainforest countries [1], alerting them to the destruction of wildlife habitats that will result from construction of the Newbury Bypass.

Governments around the globe, including the UK Government, committed to protecting the world's wildlife by signing The Convention on Biological Diversity at the Earth Summit in 1992. The Forest Principles, also agreed at Rio, aim to ensure protection and sustainable management of forests and woodlands worldwide.

The Newbury Bypass will damage three Sites of Special Scientific Interest(Snelsmore Common, River Kennet and River Lambourn), which have been recognised because of their exceptional value for biodiversity. It will also pass directly through Reddings Copse, home to a population of Dormice, a protected species under EU legislation [2]. It is also demolishing the habitat of badgers and several species of bat.

The road will destroy ancient oak, mature birch and semi-natural broadleaved woodlands (notably at Snelsmore Common, Reddings Copse and Great Penn Wood). The UK has already lost almost 94% of its ancient woodland. Friends of the Earth believes that what little ancient woodland remains should be protected, in accordance with global agreements and responsibilities.

Friends of the Earth is urging the governments of the ten top rainforest countries, which together account for almost 80% of the world's tropical rainforests, to write to John Major, reminding him of his global responsibilities to protect biodiversity and natural habitats, and urging him to reconsider the decision to build the Newbury bypass.

Charles Secrett, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth, said:

"Other countries must be made aware of the damage the UK is inflicting on its natural habitats and biodiversity, especially in the light of the international agreements reached at Rio.

How on earth can we expect poorer countries to protect important wildlife habitats like the rainforests when we are destroying our own nature reserves?

The UK frequently claims the moral high ground at international conservation meetings, and urges other countries to safeguard their natural resources. Unless the Government protects our own wildlife, our ability to press for future global agreements or progress on environmental issues will be severely limited."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Friends of the Earth has written to the UK Ambassadors/High Commissioners of Mexico, Colombia, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Brazil,Zaire, Indonesia, Peru, Gabon and Guyana.

[2] The Dormouse is included on Annex IVa. of the European Union Habitats Directive. Species on Annex IV are defined as being of Community interest and in need of strict protection. It was also highlighted as one of the UK's 116 most threatened and declining species in the Government's recent report Biodiversity: the UK Steering Group Report.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust