Press release

Wildlife sites not enough to protect nature's economic benefits

6 June 2011

Selecting wildlife sites for protection doesn't go far enough to protect the natural environment and the economic and social benefits it brings, Friends of the Earth said today ahead of the expected publication of the Natural Environment White Paper tomorrow (Tuesday 7 June 2011).

The green campaigning charity is warning that simply selecting a limited number of natural habitats for protection won't be enough to safeguard the £30 billion in health and welfare benefits that Britain's natural environment contributes to the economy each year.

The group is urging the Government to act on the threats posed by climate change and increasing pressure on natural resources at home and overseas - and ensure that every department across Whitehall plays its part in building a greener future.

Friends of the Earth campaigner Paul de Zylva said:

"Protecting nature is great for the economy - the Government's own research shows our green spaces are worth billions in helping us to keep healthy and happy.

"But putting a price on nature is no substitute for political change that helps the natural world we all depend on to thrive - such as protecting forests from development and supporting planet-friendly farming.

"David Cameron must see to it that every department across Whitehall plays a part in cutting emissions and building a greener, wildlife-rich future."

ENDS

Notes to editor

1.   Friends of the Earth welcomed a groundbreaking study published by Defra last week in which UK scientists placed a value on nature for the first time. Friends of the Earth called the UK National Ecosystems Assessment "essential summer reading for all MPs and economists." 

2.   See Guardian article 'UK green spaces worth at least £30bn a year in health and welfare, report finds'.

3.  The Government says tomorrow's White Paper is "an opportunity to change the way we think about and manage the natural environment, seeing it as a system and valuing the services it gives us."

4.   Friends of the Earth is pushing for the UK to commit to reducing the UK's footprint on the natural environment overseas, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and protecting natural resources like soil and water. Action includes:

• Leading reform of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) at EU level to provide better financial support for planet-friendly farming, that meets mandatory environmental standards, and benefits small-scale and organic farming, crop rotation, upland grazing and the production of home-grown animal feed to reduce the UK's reliance on environmentally damaging imports of soy;
• Providing clear Government guidance for consumers on reducing meat and dairy consumption to for health and environmental reasons - the benefits of which were identified in a recent Government report on the Future of Food and Farming;
• Scrapping high biofuels targets which are driving deforestation and support greener transport alternatives to driving such as better public transport and more walking and cycling.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust