Dorset Wildlife Trust is extremely worried about recent announcements made by the Government that pose serious threats to nature, impact of climate change and food security, and is asking their members, supporters and the wider public to defend nature by contacting MPs and local councillors to voice concerns.
Last week the Government announced their plans to:
- Introduce a new planning and infrastructure bill as well as investment zones as part of the growth plan, which threaten to weaken vital protections for habitats and wildlife
- Lift the ban on fracking in England, despite there being no evidence that fracking is safe
- Launch a ‘review’ of the long-awaited Environmental Land Management schemes – which were designed to reward farmers for restoring nature, preventing pollution from entering rivers and climate-proofing their businesses
- Progress the Retained EU Law Bill – threatening to revoke hundreds of laws that protect wild places and ensure standards for water quality, pollution and the use of pesticides
These proposals have already caused outrage among environmental and conservation charities, politicians of all political persuasions, farmers, campaigners, and members of the public – many of whom are concerned that the Government is not tackling the nature and climate crises with the urgency required.
Brian Bleese, Chief Executive of Dorset Wildlife Trust said,
"We are deeply concerned about these plans to weaken the legal protections for nature at a time when it is already in such a vulnerable state. It goes against the explicit promises the UK Government made in their 2019 manifesto and the mandate they were elected to govern on, whilst putting wildlife and green spaces in Dorset at extreme risk.
Reversing plans to support nature-friendly farming and abandoning regulations that protect nature could decimate local wildlife, which is already suffering steep declines. Since 1970, more than 40% of species have declined in abundance, with 26% of mammals at risk of disappearing altogether. In Dorset over 400 species recorded in the past are now thought to be extinct in the county.
We are calling on the public to contact their elected representatives and tell them just how concerned they are about these dangerous plans, and to let our leaders know that such deregulation is unacceptable. These destructive proposals will affect not just Dorset's wildlife and wild places, but also the green spaces where we live, food security and our fight against the impacts of climate change.”
