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The RSPB view

Cairngorm in snow

As a general election draws near, the RSPB is working with many of our partners in other conservation groups to raise the profile of the environment amongst politicians, and to give politicians of all parties opportunities to express their views on climate change, wildlife conservation and countryside issues.

However much land managers, conservation organisations and millions of individuals try, there cannot be a secure future for nature without strong commitment from political leaders.

We will be contacting all prospective parliamentary candidates and asking them to sign a pledge that they will do their best for wildlife if elected, interviewing major figures in the political parties and putting their views on our website, and organising public meetings in a small number of constituencies as environmental hustings.

At a time when the natural world is under such severe threat, we believe it is important that politicians are given the opportunity to put forward their views – and the electorate has the opportunity to constructively challenge those views.

And we see signs that the natural world is creeping back up the political agenda. There have been more mentions and more thoughtful mentions of conservation in recent weeks – we welcome the attention that the political parties are paying to the natural environment, on which we all fundamentally rely.

There cannot be a secure future for nature without strong commitment from political leaders.

Our Letter to the Future campaign, is specifically designed to bring this message home to our politicians, so please do sign up if you have not already done so, click the link at the bottom of the page.

And just as we will closely monitor what politicians say on the environment, and relay their views to you through our publications and website, it is important for our political leaders to keep in touch with the views of the electorate.

I was struck recently by the results of a survey of public attitudes to the environment (this was carried out in England, but I can't see why the results should vary much across the UK). The research found that 85% of the UK population agreed with the statement “I do worry about the loss of species of animals and plants in the world” and that 91% agreed that “There are many natural places that I may never visit, but I'm glad they exist.”

Such results do not perhaps surprise many of us, but I think they may surprise many politicians – people do care passionately about the wildlife around them and not just because they see the economic benefits or even just because they want wildlife on their doorsteps to enjoy themselves.

The public recognises that we are mad to destroy the living world around us because it will make our own existence more difficult, but they also want future generations to grow up in a world full of natural beauty. Politicians may find it to their advantage to recognise these widespread and deeply held desires as we head towards the ballot boxes.

And we have something to celebrate!

We don’t believe that the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act is perfect – but it is a great step forward.This very important Act will be followed in Scotland in 2010 and, we hope, in due course in Northern Ireland, by more legal protection for our seas.

Parliamentarians, in both Houses, and across all parties have worked hard to bring this Act into action – from John Randall (the Conservative MP for Uxbridge) whose Private Member’s Bill gave the whole process impetus through to the Defra Secretary of State Hilary Benn and Minister Huw Irranca-Davies who have steered the current Act’s passage through Parliament.

Large numbers of RSPB members lobbied for legal protection for marine wildlife and the RSPB has put in years of effort with others to influence the shape of the Act. We now all have a great deal of further work to do to make sure that the promise of the Act is translated into healthy seas and abundant marine life.

What can I do?

So, if you feel passionately that we need to make decisions today that will safeguard nature into the future, then please sign the Letter to the Future and together we can make the world a richer place.

Sign the letter

Graham Wynne, chief executive of the RSPB

The RSPB View

The RSPB's Chief Executive, Graham Wynne, writes this regular column in the quarterly membership magazine, BIRDS.