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FEARS FOR NEW COUNTRYSIDE WATCHDOG

Nov 11 2003

Friends of the Earth today called on the Government to guarantee that any new countryside body replacing English Nature as a result of the Haskin's review remains independent of Government.

Friends of the Earth is concerned that the new "integrated agency'' will not be able to be critical of Government and lack English Nature's current independence.

The report from Lord Haskins, the Government's adviser on food and farming, said a new agency should "embrace bio-diversity, historical landscape, natural landscape, natural resources, access and recreation'', and will involve the merger of English Nature, with the Government's Rural Development Service and some functions of the Countryside Agency.

Friends of the Earth Director Tony Juniper said:

"This review appears to have more to do with saving money than saving wildlife and we worry what it might mean in practice. English Nature has been becoming an increasingly effective independent wildlife protection agency,and no matter what arrangement result from this review, that must remain.

"Lord Haskins may know how to cut red tape but what does he know about defending wild species and precious habitat? The real tests of this review whether it produces more and diverse wildlife not less, and an independent watchdog for town and country. If the final proposal that arise from this process are to command confidence there must be a full public consultation on these proposals, rather than the Government simply accepting the ideas of just one of Tony Blair's business cronies."

Recent successful interventions by English Nature have been:

• GM crops
• Road schemes (i.e. Hastings bypass)
• Airports (especially Cliffe proposals)
• Ports (especially Dibden bay)
• Housing expansion

Friends of the Earth has four main concerns about the planned reorganisation of rural delivery bodies:

1. Red tape is not the issue; EN provides good value for money (c 60 million a year running costs). The Haskins Review appears to be inspired by a Number 10 concern with delivery. The real test is whether re-organisation leads to more biodiversity in England and a stronger watchdog role for English Nature.
2. English Nature's focus on biodiversity should be not be diluted: its multiple role as independent adviser, biodiversity watchdog, champion within government, policy maker and deliverer must be retained and not compromised by EN having to be a general deliver on rural issues.
3. Biodiversity is not solely a rural matter and if EN is subsumed into a rural focused Land Management Agency, Ministers need to be clear on how to deal with marine and urban biodiversity.
4. Proper public consultation has not taken place - Haskins review was a private affair. Friends of the Earth retains an open mind about the Government's intentions and its response to the Haskins proposals. But it is not acceptable for Haskins Review to be the only forum for debate on this.

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