The overdue domestic environmental targets unveiled by the Government have been met with criticism from Wildlife Trusts.
The Wildlife Trusts says they are appalled that Government has ignored the public’s plea to improve river health and protected places – and allows nature to flatline for next 20 years.
Terrey: These targets are too weak to turn the tide for nature
Hannah Terrey, Director of Advocacy at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said,
“Weak government ambition for nature is leaving wildlife out in the cold this Christmas, as the new Environment Act targets ignore our polluted rivers and protected sites.
“The government say they want to be ‘world leaders’ at restoring the natural world, but these targets are too weak to turn the tide for nature.
“We will need greater ambition if we are really going to reverse the decline of our precious wildlife.”
“The Government’s low ambition defies public opinion”
The long-awaited Environment Act targets are intended to improve biodiversity, air and water quality, and reduce waste, but a spokesperson for the Wildlife Trusts says,
“Instead, nature will continue to struggle as the Government’s low ambition defies public opinion on river health, wildlife declines and sites for nature.
“Without improving our protected wild places, it will be impossible for the UK to meet its international commitment to protecting 30 per cent of land and sea for nature by 2030.”
Of particular concern in today’s announcement are:
- There is no overall target to improve water quality – The Wildlife Trusts called for a target for at least 75 per cent of rivers, streams and other freshwater bodies to reach an overall “clean waters” status by 2042 – without this we could see improvements on a few specific pollutants while others, including plastics and pesticides, continue to pour into our rivers and seas, threatening wildlife and human health.
- There is no target to improve the condition of protected nature areas – despite calls for 75 per cent of protected wildlife sites to be in favourable condition by 2042.
- The targets set for wildlife abundance will fail to reverse decades of species declines – instead recovery will flatline.
- Increased conifer planting will not help natural habitats and wildlife to recover. It will also fail to store carbon for the longer term as trees are chopped down and burnt as biofuels.
You can read more from the Wildlife Trusts over on their Website.
Image: Eric Jones under CC BY 2.0
