The Defra Ministerial team seem to be between a rock and a hard place. We understand that they have been asked to provide the Treasury with information that would allow 40% cuts to be considered. Some are even talking about halving the budget. It seems that the environment is quite low down the pecking order when it comes to the Treasury's priorities. It would be surprising if both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, both of whom have talked up the environment in the past, allowed the heaviest cuts to fall on Defra. People will ask where did the 'greenest government ever' go?
Some even suggest that Defra itself might be so reduced in size that a merger with other departments would be on the cards. The green environment could go to DECC and farming could go to BIS - Business Innovation and Skills! In each case the fear would be that the Defra cast-off would be swamped by bigger interests - which is a bit odd since farming covers 70% or so of the land surface and wildlife encompasses the other millions of species on our planet which are not the self-styled Homo sapiens! I doubt that Peter Kendall and the NFU would hold as much sway in BIS as they do in Defra, and wildlife almost always loses out to greenhouse gases!
Whilst Defra Ministers are fighting their corner over abolition - and good luck to them - they are being lobbied (I almost said badgered but I'll save badgers for a future blog) by the likes of us. Well, that's one of the things we are for!
How fares the Defra family?
The Environment Agency, again we understand, have not listed biodiversity conservation as one of their priorities but might, at last, try to get something worthwhile out of the Water Framework Directive. EA does a lot of good for wildlife, but often off the sides of dedicated staff's desks or by clever thinking with non-biodiversity budgets. This good work may disappear now. Most don't think of EA when they think biodiversity - but the effects of cuts on EA could be very damaging for wetland and coastal wildlife - although the impact of any cuts will depend on the decisions made by senior EA staff and Defra Ministers.
The Forestry Commission - or the bit that actually grows trees - is facing a possible massive sell-off of land. Ministers have realised, it seems, that whereas the Commission was set up for the strategic purpose of providing wooden pit props for mines after the First World War things have moved on. Although they haven't moved on to the point where forestry is booming economically at the moment. A whole host of new tree diseases certainly doesn't help their profitability. But trees grow on land and land always has value. Even if forestry isn't a very attractive economic asset right now, land is. So there is money to be made in selling off FC land. Our concerns are mostly about what happens to the places like the New Forest, Thetford Forest, the Forest of Dean etc which have high ecological value. Surely those areas' wildlife must be protected in any disposals?
And Natural England have Board approval for their 800 job losses starting with 400 next year. This year sees cuts in investment in biodiversity, farm advice, marine programmes, planning casework, landscape and access and recreation. Are these frontline services? And these are just based on the early within-year cuts - think how much deeper and wider the cuts will be in the coming years.
So we feel for the Defra Ministers. They are consistent in saying that biodiversity is a top priority for them - excellent! And although we will judge them by how they handle the cuts that they are given we will certainly judge the coalition government by the size of the cuts.
Given that the combined signatures for Letter to the Future overtop the largest political party membership in this country - and come from all political persuasions I am sure - then surely we should hope to see, from the 'greenest government ever', a fair deal for nature. Please add your name to out Letter to the Future campaign - its growth is noticed in high places I can assure you.
It is a grim picture that seems to be emerging Mark. All the reorganisation that seems to be on the cards perhaps may not be too bad for wildlife as long as our current wildlife protection systems continue to operate effectively albeit under different "hats". However this seems to be unlikely from what is emerging. For example reducing organisations like Natural England to an ineffective rump type status and loosing all the support of the EA would be disasters. One wonders who is really "calling the shots" in all this, whether it is any longer DEFRA themselves or whether it goes higher up. Obviously Mr Osbourne has a big involvment but I can't see him/The Treasury being too concerned about wildlife protection and biodiversity. Perhaps lobbying and our Letter to the Future now needs to be addressed more directly to Messrs Cameron and Clegg jf that is possible. In respect of funding for RSPB projects that are not wholly within the UK perhaps we should be increasingly looking abroad such as the EU, Scandinavia, Germany, the rich countries of the Middle East and possibly Russia. Anyway just suggestions, and good luck in all your efforts.
It’s a big problem ...
As a Nation ‘We’ borrow £1 in every £4 of what we spend on a daily basis – we have lived way beyond our means for well over 5 years! We can argue (politically) about how we got to this irresponsible position – but we cannot change history and like an alcoholic in rehab we need to understand it and admit it to ourselves. The we can move on.
In some respects – countryside / environment-wise we are fortunate because the Coalition of Conservatives & Lib Dems are “more” “countryside” compared with Labour’s town-centric leanings.
Problems? Too true!
Opportunities? Plenty!
I’m sure that the RSPB will continue to do the right things operationally - but my main interest lies in the way it drives forward a new strategy with tactics to address the problems and take advantage of the ‘opportunities’ this situation presents.
It’s like a very, very long hard winter – and whilst we must of course look after the vulnerable - in the long term - only those that are strong, have prepared for winter, hibernate, fly away or adapt will survive.
Time to think the unthinkable? Time to adapt?
It might just happen!
As well as the potential cost to wildlife there is also a huge human cost here. One can only feel great sympathy for the staff of these organisations, many of whom are under tremendous stress at the moment.
I'm sure there is quite an element of 'softening up' going on (so the actual outcome won't seem so bad and be accepted more easily) but it's clear that the result could still be dire for wildlife and for many people.
Let's hope that there are enough members of the coalition government and its MPs who care enough to prevent a complete disaster. The PM was quick to stamp on cutting school milk; in the current situation, the more people who show they care about wildlife the better.
Well think this may be controversial and not a knock at those organisations but the world managed really well without DEFRA,N E and indeed RSPB and we have to move forward without using as much money.The old order of spending beyond our means is not a option and had the previous Government been more responsible this level of cuts would not be necessary.Lets be positive and see this as a opportunity to be more efficient.
See in the Telegraph the Government are asking farmers to suggest ways of cutting red tape that have been strangling their businesses and point out the regulations they see as the biggest time wasters.Think they will get lorry loads of suggestions,this must be surely one of the biggest benefits of the cuts to DEFRA.
Sooty, the world didn't manage really well without Natural England (in all its former incarnations) and the RSPB. You can't leave nature conservation to market forces. Some of us remember when SSSIs had very little protection and many were being destroyed or damaged. The RSPB really started to get its act together in the 1960's - just look at the wild areas that have been safeguarded, improved or created in the UK since. I suggest you look through "Where to Discover Nature" - the reserves handbook (and quite a few non-visitor reserves are not in it of course) and reflect on what's been acheived.
Of course you are right SG but the big losses of bird numbers and indeed species is something that has accelerated over past decades and centuries.
…….. One day I fell asleep on the train up to London …..
I dreamt that DEFRA had, through necessity, laid off many of its ‘inspectorate’ staff and that its responsibility for authorising payments to all farmers was re-allocated (in quango-like fashion) to a ‘wing’ of a much enlarged RSPB for which it was paid a sum of money much reduced from today’s expenditure levels. The RSPB Charter was changed to accommodate this responsibility.
The dream went on to see a Coalition Govt introduce a Nationwide responsibility for Land Owners / Users to do the right thing ‘environmentally’ - authorised by the ‘RSPB’ – a win-win-win solution – with the RSPB significantly influencing ‘land management issues and practices’.
I awoke at Euston – and on approaching the barrier I realised that I hadn’t bought a ticket – I had to pay the Ticket Inspector.
Thank goodness that was only a dream Peter! If the RSPB became a quango its ability to influence (and credibility) would go down the pan!
Don't pay the Ferryman, don't even fix a price! (Having just quoted a Chris de Burgh lyric I accept that my own credibility has sunk to an all time low..!)
Sadly with hindsight think everyone will feel DEFRA have shot themselves in the foot as I believe things like this happened but cannot prove it that EU brought out a book of rules to send to all EU farmers containing 27 pages but DEFRA obviously thought make it more difficult for UK farmers and filled it out to 170 pages,this type of thing was typical and seemed like making jobs for the boys(and girls of course who all seemed to come from a lovely place called Portugal).Always seemed strange that we all seemed to get on reasonably well with most Min Of Ag people in fact would say we mostly had a really good relationship with most of them just the odd individual who was difficult,that no one seems to get on with its direct replacement DEFRA.
Hi Gert
BOLDLY GOING NOWHERE
In my dream – as I ‘recall’ – the RSPB wasn’t actually a ‘quango’ – but it had assumed operational responsibility for signing-off ‘grants’.
I fear if DEFRA goes down – the RSPB – although there would be still greater need – would be flushed down along with it – 250,000 signatures won’t help – 1 million marchers didn’t stop Iraq – over 400,000 didn’t stop the Hunting Bill.
It could be ‘Goodnight Vienna’
Attention
Interest
Desire
Action
…….as we marketers say …..
Cheers
Gert - Goodnight Vienna – RINGO – beat that for credibility !!
FELT LIKE A BOHUNK BUT I KEPT UP MY COOL, AH-HAH-HAH,
GREEN AS A FROG, MAN, I WAS BACK INTO SCHOOL, AH-HAH-HAH,
ZIPPED UP MY MOUTH 'CAUSE I WAS STARTING TO DROOL, AH-HAH-HAH,
IT'S ALL DA-DA-DA-DOWN TO GOODNIGHT VIENNA.