Page 11 - Wildlife News August 2019

Hot topics fiosTrnhaoecwttii!mone

Ba ngdtrhuem! Tell them we need
more nature in our lives!
As the government finalises its historic (DAVID TIPLING/2020VISION)
Environment Bill things are moving fast.
This is your last chance to let them know
you care! Get involved and make the
difference of a generation, says Director of
External Affairs Tom Beckett

You and I know that nature is central to our existence. It cleans the air we breathe, the water we drink and gives us the food we

eat. Natural ecosystems help to regulate the climate and provide untold other services that ensure society functions.

Government appears to have got the message too, but we need one final push to get across the finish line. To ensure

nature’s recovery we need the government to legislate for the creation of Nature Recovery Networks to provide the space

nature needs to spread out from protected areas and out into the wider landscape.

Our nature reserves serve as valuable pools of rare plants and

animals, helping many species avoid extinction. But the time is Why I met
right for nature to break free. Nature Recovery Networks will make my MP
space for nature right at the heart of our farming and planning

systems, joining up once-fragmented habitats to create a resilient, BBOWT member
wildlife-rich Britain for everyone. Val Siddiqui tells us
This is the final call to lend your voice to our Wilder Future why she decided to
campaign. More than 200 BBOWT supporters have already met or act by meeting
written to their MP about the Environment Bill – a big thank you! her MP.
You too can write to your MP or, better still, meet them in person.

Tell them you care. Tell them why nature matters. Let’s make this With the UK ranking Val with her
the moment in history when wildlife starts to recover. 29th lowest out of 218 local MP,
countries for
Ask your MP to support: John Howell.

n Nature Recovery Networks for wildlife to recover and to ‘biodiversity intactness’

help improve access to wildlife and wild places; in an international study and people becoming increasingly

disconnected from nature I felt that government policies

n An independent environmental watchdog that can hold were continually prioritising growth over the protection of

national and local government to account; the natural world. For me, the economic benefits of healthy
n Strong laws with legally binding targets to improve the ecosystems and the advantages of people having access to
green spaces were being overlooked.
environment and biodiversity. Although initially encouraged to see that the

Learn more about the Wilder Future campaign and how you government’s 25 Year Environment Plan included a proposal

can help at bbowt.org.uk/wilder-future for a Nature Recovery Network to reverse the declines in

wildlife, I was disappointed that these were not referred

Join our campaign to in the subsequent Environment Bill Policy Paper. It was
time to turn my frustration to action; to lobby my MP and to
The Environment Bill will be published after the Queen’s speech encourage others to do likewise.

(unlikely before autumn). It will then be debated in the Houses

of Commons and Lords, so there will be plenty of opportunity to

influence it before it becomes law. If you would like to find out Read how Val got on and her tips for meeting
how you can help with our campaigning work and make sure your own MP at bbowt.org.uk/meet-your-mp
the final legislation is as strong as possible, please contact Nicky

Warden on nickywarden@bbowt.org.uk

Wildlife news / August 2019 11