Archived press release

England's Wildlife Watchdog Threatened With Extinction

21 July 2004

Friends of the Earth reacted with alarm today (Wednesday 21^st July) at proposals that could seriously set back official nature protection efforts in England. The Rural Strategy 2004 proposals, presented to Parliament by Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett, will lead to the effective abolition of English Nature, the country's official nature protection watchdog. It will be subsumed into a new integrated body covering a rash of rural issues.

English Nature (EN) has been a thorn in the side of Government in recent years, querying ministers over the impact on wildlife of GM crops and objecting to their plans for damaging airport, port and road schemes. Because of its outspoken stance, EN has earned the respect of environmental groups which previously saw the body as overly compliant with government policy, as over the Twyford Down M3 extension and the third Newbury Bypass.

With the newly announced Rural Strategy, it is feared that the clear and focused remit of EN to conserve biodiversity (the diversity of England's wildlife species and habitats) will be lost as the new integrated body will embrace a far wider set of issues from payments to farmers, diversifying the rural economy and access to the countryside.

Friends of the Earth is also concerned that unelected and unaccountable Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) will be given a greater say in rural development, which could undermine nature protection as the RDAs pursue their remit to increase economic growth, often by sponsoring development schemes regardless of their damaging environmental effects.

Friends of the Earth England Director, Paul de Zylva, said:

"This decision threatens to relegate the protection of England's wildlife, and could leave our most precious and vulnerable habitats and species even more at risk from pollution, development pressure and industrial farming. What is needed is a wildlife watchdog, not a Government poodle. The laws setting up the new body will be the real test of the Government's intentions. Only then will Margaret Beckett's vision of England as a `treasure trove of diverse and wonderful wildlife' stand a chance of being realized".

Friends of the Earth also called on Ministers to carry out a full consultation on this important issue of public interest, ensure that the new body is properly funded and staffed to deliver more and better biodiversity. The environmental group also warned that the new agency must not be forced to meet the Treasury's efficiency savings, which are blind to the need to protect and conserve wildlife.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust