Page 10 - Wildlife News April 2017

Hot topic

Four-spotted chaser.

(BRIAN WALKER)

Where next

for nature ?

Both nationally and locally, wildlife finds itself at a crossroads.
Head of Conservation, Matt Jackson explains some of the reasons why

W hile other issues have been grabbing the headlines, the potential impact of leaving the Europe Union on
environmental protection hasn’t been forgotten. Both the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) and a recent
House of Lords committee report highlight concerns about how protections developed during membership of
the EU will continue after the UK leaves.

The EAC suggests a new Environmental Protection Act will be necessary, while the Lords committee emphasised that
legislation will need proper scrutiny within the UK without input from the European Court, which has provided guidance
on issues such as the protection of habitats and key species.

Natural capital

The need for improved legislation to address our impoverished natural environment has also been highlighted by the
Natural Capital Committee, a group chaired by BBOWT’s Vice President, Prof. Dieter Helm, and which reports direct to the
Treasury. Its most recent report suggests new legislation will be needed to protect our ‘natural capital’ – the stock of the
natural environment that supports wildlife and benefits for people.

As Wildlife News went to press we were still waiting for the Defra framework for a 25-year plan for nature to be
published. This aims to deliver on the Government’s commitment of our generation being the first to leave the natural
environment in a better state than we inherited. Protecting and enhancing natural capital is expected to be a key theme
of the plan, which should come forward through a White Paper later this year.

Green light for HS2 They heard you! Badger. (ANDREW MASON

The first phase of the High Speed 2 railway Thanks to everyone who signed
between London and Birmingham has now
been given Royal Assent, with the project Simon King’s petition calling for
beginning in earnest. BBOWT has campaigned
tirelessly throughout the approval process for a Parliamentary debate on
changes to reduce the impact on wildlife and
to provide enhancements. As the new line goes badger culling. The debate was
ahead there will be impacts at both our Finemere
Wood and Calvert Jubilee nature reserves. This held on 27 March, after Wildlife
may mean changes to the ways visitors access
these reserves. The HS2 construction period will News went to press, so please
last for many years, and during this time we will
keep access information updated on our website. check our news page
n Watch Matt explain how BBOWT has
reduced the impact of HS2 on wildlife at (bbowt.org.uk/news)
bbowt.org.uk/what-we-do/campaigns-0
for updates.

BBOWT is committed to

vaccinating badgers as one

of helping to prevent bovine TB from spreading further eastwards.

We welcome Defra’s tighter controls on cattle movements and

increased biosecurity measures to combat the transfer of bovine

TB between cattle.

10 Wildlife news / April 2017