Commenting on the EU State of Nature report, published today (Wednesday 20 May), Friends of the Earth nature campaigner Sandra Bell said: “Europe’s wildlife and natural environment are under huge pressure.
“We cannot afford to ignore the growing impact of threats, such as intensive farming, on our birds, bees and butterflies.
“The European Commission must abandon plans to weaken its nature directives. This report confirms that European laws play a crucial role in defending our most precious habitats and wildlife, and must be enforced across the EU.
“A thriving natural environment and our own wellbeing go hand in hand: if we don’t heed the warnings in this report, the consequences will be costly for us all.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. The State of Nature report is a comprehensive assessment of Europe’s natural environment. It draws on the data and reports submitted by member states on their progress in implementing the birds and habitats directives. The EC press release is here:.
2. The birds and habitats directives are currently under review. The European Commission is carrying out a ‘fitness check’ of the directives as part of a wider deregulatory agenda under REFIT (Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme). On Tuesday 12th May 100 UK NGOs joined with allies across Europe to launch a campaign to defend these laws. So far over 100,000 people have asked the European Commission not to weaken the nature directive.
3. The Directives have been proven to be effective when properly implemented delivering demonstrable benefits for biodiversity as well as significant social and economic benefits. The directives have been instrumental in recovering bittern populations in the UK and protecting important bee habitat across the EU – see here (page 26).
4. Implementation of the directives is far from complete. The State of Nature report reveals that the majority of Member States report a low level of habitats in ‘favourable’ condition. The UK is amongst the countries with the most habitat assessments with unfavourable status. Agriculture including the use of pesticides is noted as one of the key pressures on the status of habitats.
5. Friends of the Earth is currently conducting a nationwide survey of UK bees throughout the month on May. The citizen science project features a free app that can be downloaded here.
6. Friends of the Earth and major conservation groups are calling for stronger implementation of the directives, adequate funding of conservation measures and further reform of the Common Agricultural Policy to reduce the negative impacts of intensive farming on nature.
For press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
