Attack on nature: the story so far

The Chancellor has announced that Investment Zones will not be taken forward as previously planned. We still need to see the details, but it’s good news that it’s not full steam ahead.  

We also know that nature-friendly farming schemes won’t be altogether scrapped as feared. That said, we are still expecting the UK Government to announce changes to the schemes by the end of the year.  

There are still major threats to nature on the horizon. We need to see the Retained EU Law Bill (REUL Bill) binned. And we still need to see targets and plans for the UK Government’s delivery of the Environment Act to restore 30% of land for nature by 2030.

Now, we need you to convince MPs from all political parties to take positive actions for nature. So, we want you to start having urgent face to face conversations with your MPs across England. By having polite, peaceful & respectful conversations – we can help MPs to understand just how many people love wildlife and give them confidence to step up for nature.

Plans to introduce at least 38 ‘Investment Zones’ – meaning housing and commercial developments could be incentivised to damage nature with little or no restriction. And an aspiration to extend the same approach to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland too. 

Considering scrapping a vital scheme in England that would have supported our farmers and landowners to enhance nature, create space for rare species and habitats, and use their land to absorb carbon and work towards net zero.

Plans to amend or scrap crucial environmental laws which protect some of our most vulnerable wildlife and green places across the UK. They also defend our clean water, clean air, clean beaches and rivers. 

• The Wildlife Trusts: 
  “Make no mistake - we are also incredibly angry. We stand with @RSPBEngland in calling out the unprecedented attack on nature launched by UK Government over the last few days. We’ll be challenging this together and asking for our supporters to stand with us.”
• National Trust: 
  “We share the deep concern of our fellow conservation organisations during this critical moment for nature. We have been and will continue to help drive the national conversation until assurances are made for the protection of nature and history for generations to come.”

• Former Foreign Secretary and former Conservative Party leader, William Hague: 
  The former Conservative MP wrote in The Times: “The idea that we can choose faster growth at the expense of our environment shows an inadequate understanding of those trends — that we are biological creatures that need a thriving ecosystem around us, not gods who can dispense with it if we wish. Crucially, it also reveals a misunderstanding of the future of growth. The great prizes for growth in the coming decades will go to cities that can breathe, with the trees that help that and the wildlife that proves it. They will go to the innovators who combine housing with natural habitat instead of sticking to old building techniques and asking to disregard it, and to councils and governments that can save money on flood defences by creating wetlands or forest.”
• Former Environment Secretary Michael Gove MP:
  The former Conservative MP and Environment Secretary, signed a letter in The Times calling for the Government to continue payments that reward farmers for nature-friendly farming, reading: “Environmental payments will help food security by incentivising soil improvements, more pollinators and natural pest management.” 

Notable voices sharing support include Chris Packham, Stephen Fry, Feargal Sharkey, Sue Perkins, and Zoe Henry.