Nature under attack - we need your help
By Chris Corrigan
Interim CEO
The government has launched an attack on nature, tearing up the most fundamental legal protection for our threatened wildlife.
We urgently need you to contact your MP and demand that they defend nature now.
The government needs to hear that:
- Healthy wildlife and a thriving environment are the answer to many of the challenges we face today - they are not burdens
- Environmental regulations work and are vital to protecting and restoring our most precious places
- Without a healthy environment we can never have a healthy economy
- Without a healthy environment we can never improve food security
- We want to see public money invested in well-designed farming schemes that are sustainable and deliver benefits for both people and wildlife.
In the last few days the UK government has announced a clear attack on nature by calling for ‘burdensome’ environmental regulations to be scrapped. Driving this deregulation is a new UK-wide Bill [the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill], which empowers the government to revoke and remove a range of environmental protections – many of which stem from EU policies that have been enabling the protection of our Sussex environment for years, from the rules that protect hundreds of species and wildlife sites to the laws that stop pollution in our rivers and streams. Critically, the Bill enables these protections to be revoked without any need for replacement.
This is undoubtedly the most regressive action for the environment we have seen from a UK government for decades, and at a time when our response to the climate and biodiversity crises is paramount. This potential bonfire of regulations could see our most important wildlife sites stripped of protection; current incentives for wildlife-friendly farming scrapped; and a development free-for-all as weakened planning laws make it even easier to bulldoze nature. We’ll see more wildlife sites damaged and destroyed; more sewage in our rivers and more species threatened with extinction.
How will we feel these impacts here in Sussex? Some of our most vital wildlife sites will be left bare to damage and destruction:
- Chichester Harbour is one of the most important wildlife sites in the UK and globally important for migratory birds. It’s already struggling in the face of mounting pressures but its poor state is driving real action on the ground from communities, landowners, companies, NGOs and public bodies. All this work could be jeopardised if the legal requirements to improve water quality and reverse habitat decline are removed, along with the mechanisms that exist for landowners to fund this essential work. This will be devastating for the environment and allow a wave of further intensive development across the south of the district.
- The Arun Valley, with its valuable wetland habitats and prized views, is currently protected but under huge pressure in terms of water availability. Is there enough water to enable the river valley to function; to support the rare wildlife that depends on it; and to supply the new and existing households that rely on it? Current environmental regulations mean that pressures on the local water supply have been recognised, essentially sticking on a plaster to try and limit damaging activities from drawing even more water from the environment. Rip that plaster off and those protections are gone, and the damaging activities can resume – not because there is suddenly more water available and plenty to go around, but because there is simply no mechanism in place to restrict water use. Instead it will be a green light for faster and more sustained degradation of our environment - so what happens when the river runs dry?
- Ashdown Forest is at risk of being hemmed in by development driven by unrealistic housing targets, if the protections for this internationally important landscape are swept aside. These housing targets will pay no attention to whether we have sufficient water, clean air or space to accommodate them and adapt to a changing climate.
But the government’s attacks on nature don’t stop at protected sites. Agricultural regulations are at risk too as the government intends to ‘rapidly review’ the new system designed to support nature-friendly farming.
We are fundamentally reliant on a healthy, functioning environment to grow food and ensure our nation’s food security, and the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) reflected this by aiming to pay farmers to protect nature through positive farming practices - using public money to pay for public good. We have all spent the last five years preparing to put the environment at the centre of agriculture. Farmers and landowners support this, they know that soil health and functioning ecosystems are fundamental to everyone’s future, including their own. Instead, we are now hearing that government could just continue to pay farmers based purely on how many acres they own. This would see the majority of taxpayers’ money being funnelled into the biggest farms with no environmental conditions attached – effectively tearing up the 2019 Tory manifesto commitment that “in return for funding [farmers] must farm in a way that protects and enhances our natural environment.”
The government’s environmental deregulation agenda is also a clear breach of their manifesto promise to deliver the most ambitious environmental programme of any country on earth. It will mean more developers are able to get away with destroying our most important wildlife sites, and it will provide a licence to increase the pollution entering our rivers and sea.
However, this is not a done deal and we now have an opportunity to challenge these proposals and demand change. There are big moments in life when your action matters, and now is one of those moments! Writing to your MP, sharing this blog and encouraging others to do the same is vital. MPs need to fully understand the strength of feeling from the public on this issue – and this is one of those moments where we need to mobilise thousands and make our outrage at this gross negligence heard.
You can find a template letter and details of how to contact your MP here.
Sussex Wildlife Trust is standing shoulder to shoulder with the national Wildlife Trust movement in our Defend Nature Campaign. We want to amplify your voice, get our message and your passion across, and most critically mobilise our elected representatives to argue and fight on our behalf.
Thank you for your support!
Comments
Will contact MP but people need to be made more aware of the plight of Badgers in this country !!!!
29 Sep 2022 10:27:00
This Conservative government is showing itself to be impervious to advice from experts, in so many fields. Look at the current financial crisis, caused by the recent “ mini budget.” The motto of “carry on regardless” is the dangerous approach of an unelected and poorly informed PM and Chancellor.
Our precious environment is set to be the next major casualty of the same administration and mindset.
Those of us who live in West Sussex are already seeing widespread destruction of greenfield sites by intensive development of housing estates and new road building. Developers’ interests are currently favoured above all else.
The Conservative government’s favouritism, ignorance and failure to protect the environment in both the short and long term, will have an increasingly destructive effect on the environment.
Manifesto pledges (remember them) to protect the environment and to support animal welfare and our farmers are being torn up. European safeguards will be dropped and not replaced.
Our countryside will continue to be significantly undervalued, while the very wealthy will prosper, even more.
This is yet another call to arms. Please do write to your MPs.
29 Sep 2022 10:55:00
I have written to Lloyd Russell-Moyle my local MP.
29 Sep 2022 12:46:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Thank you for your support
I am at a loss to understand why the government is acting in this way! It is hugely irresponsible and inhumane. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
29 Sep 2022 13:04:00
All life is important to the health of this beautiful planet, it must be protected!!!
29 Sep 2022 13:51:00
We all need to write to MPs and use the media whenever we can to raise this worrying issue of removing environmental regulations proposed by the ignorance of the new government cabinet. Over 5years of hard work will also be thrown away on ELMS.. We cannot let this happen!
29 Sep 2022 14:00:00
Nature must come first.
29 Sep 2022 14:08:00
Have written to Maria Caulfield, for all the notice she will pay. However have made my feelings clear.
29 Sep 2022 14:27:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Thank you for your support
Have written to Jeremy Quin, Horsham MP. Thanks for providing some specimen text as a starting point, though I modified it quite a lot as I guess MPs (or at least their staff) are used to seeing multiple copies of specimen e:mails. For my part, I expect to receive a pro-forma response but will hope for something more constructive.
29 Sep 2022 15:19:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Thank you for contacting your MP
What a ridiculous statement to make that Nature is under attack. I am a farmer and conservationist and some of the regulations involved in the protection of so called endangered species need to be modified. For example the cost of putting up Newt fences in areas where they are either not to be found or where they will easily move to a new site is disproportionate to the threat to them. The amount of money spent on protecting Badgers is another issue. They cause the greatest loss to “nature” by predating Hedgehogs and Ground nesting birds than anything else.
It is interesting that part of where I farm there has been a huge increase in a previously unknown raptor to this area. The Marsh Harrier has successfully bred and now we have at least 7 of these attractive birds. However in the last week I have seen them catch and eat our precious Water Voles!!
30 Sep 2022 04:40:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
We understand your point about newt fences and Badger fences and Badgers impact on Hedgehog and ground nesting birds.
We also understand that the Water Vole population is good on your land, partly due to your long standing control of American Mink.
However, the Marsh Harriers are not a threat to the Water Vole population, but rather an indicator of the general good health of the wetland, part of which you manage.
And in terms of your more general point - what is proposed goes far beyond single-species legislation. The very fundamentals of environmental protection and regulation are under threat:
I have written to my local MP, Nusrat Ghani.
30 Sep 2022 07:57:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Thank you
There’s one thing from this government on which we can count; that they will lie, lie and lie again. They care only about money, greed and personal profit, not protecting and enhancing nature and the environment for now and future generations. The upshot is, they simply don’t care so anything can be expected of them. That is the attitude we must battle against.
30 Sep 2022 12:30:00
I’ll be writing to my MP immediately. I’m afraid the environment has appeared to be a low priority for the Conservative party for a long time. This latest plan is simply another obvious reflection of it. I wondered why it was that, during the recent campaign for the Tory leadership, the candidates were not grilled for their views on Nature protection. If this had happened we at least would have known where they stood and possibly the result of the ballots might have been different.
30 Sep 2022 13:04:00
I have written to Maria Caulfield – my local MP. I hope she listens, acts and helps nature.
30 Sep 2022 16:18:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Thank you
I have read your email and responded with emailing my MP and Parish councilor using the template letter that you have supplied
30 Sep 2022 18:42:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Thank you for your support
There’s been a lot that has made me angry and frustrated in recent years, but nothing has made me angrier and more frustrated than this u-turn on earlier pledges to protect our vulnerable and unique wildlife. I seldom actually write to my MP, but there will be a letter sent to her about this………with more to follow if nothing is changed. They do NOT have a mandate for this; HOW DARE THEY!
30 Sep 2022 21:45:00
I agree totally with what you have said above. I worry always about human greed and over population. It is time that people should be shamed on having more than 2 children. Protection of wildlife is invaluable, as witnessed on panorama this week. Save all trees. Build less, stop foreign buyers of property and keep the laws to protect wildlife in farming.
05 Oct 2022 16:24:00
This government’s environmental policies defy belief. Environmental advice from all quarters is totally ignored. I have voted Tory all my life but seriously doubt that I will come the next election.
07 Oct 2022 10:44:00
Save our wildlife it’s disgraceful that it’s not protected . Every life matters no matter how big or small
11 Oct 2022 09:09:00
Agree with all these specific examples. In Catsfield we are fighting housing proposals beyond what a thriving rural community and the infrastructure can absorb plus a huge commercial proposal for a Holiday village of 240 chalets plus retail etc outlets on the Normanhurst Estate and AONB. And of course fracking and oil/gas plans will affect everyone’s natural environment
12 Oct 2022 07:03:00
This short term minded government must not be allowed to destroy by its foolish actions the long term future of our environment which should be our children and grandchildren’s inheritance
14 Oct 2022 06:35:00
I have today written to Andrew Griffith on the above.
14 Oct 2022 17:06:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Hi Jane, Thank you for your support
I have written to my MP, Sir Peter Bottomley via the RSPB. He has responded with a positive message of support.
17 Oct 2022 09:45:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Thank you
How can the Government do this! They are simply not serious about environmental issues.
23 Jan 2023 11:21:00