Defending Nature
Author Ian Hepburn
Head of Conservation
EU laws which are designed to defend the most threatened species and habitats across Europe are themselves under threat. We need the support of everyone to make sure that we don't lose these essential pieces of legislation. At the end of this blog you can see how to help.
May 21st 2015. Swifts are screaming in the (mostly) blue skies above us.
Blackcaps and chiff-chaffs are singing in gardens and hedgerows. Butterflies are dancing in the sunshine.
Ponds are heaving with tadpoles, young frogs and toads. We relish this time of year. What we tend not to think about much - if at all - is the vital suite of policy measures and legal safeguards which exist to try to make sure that what's commonplace remains so, and to give an essential boost the future prospects of the many species and habitats which have declined and are now tough to find.
Turn the clock back to 21 years to May 21st 1994. The Habitats Directive - one of the pair of EU laws making up the 'nature directives' - came into force on this day across the European Union. Aimed at securing the future for the species and habitats at most risk of extinction in the EU, this legislation - and its slightly older partner, the 'Birds Directive' - has been used effectively to enhance the protection of key sites supporting Europe's scarcest habitats and for regimes to safeguard vulnerable species.
Forward again to the present. How are we celebrating the 21st birthday of the Habitats Directive? Well, my guess is that most of us aren't giving it a second thought. That's perfectly understandable. The vast majority of people won't have come across the nature directives, let alone the benefits our wildlife continues to derive from them. But these laws are important tools in our defence of nature in Sussex. We refer to them regularly in challenging development proposals which could otherwise damage the sites, habitats or species which are covered by the nature directives.
However, the European Commission has embarked on a review of the nature directives. The review is designed to make "EU law lighter, simpler and less costly". Music to the ears of some, and on the face of it not unreasonable. But nature conservationists across Europe are concerned that this is being done in the mistaken belief that the nature directives are a hinderence to economic performance. We've been here before. The UK Government made a very public attack on the nature directives a few years ago, when terms like 'gold-plating EU legislation' and 'a burden on industry' were thrown around. Potentially powerful sound bites. But none of the assertions that the Birds and Habitats Directives were a brake on economic growth was substantiated by evidence.
Now we are faced with the real prospect that the nature directives could be watered down. We cannot let that happen. We are asking everyone to respond to the public consultation to ensure that the nature directives remain intact. This is an important opportunity. Please demonstrate your support by using The Wildlife Trusts' web form to have your say and to join those - including over 100 environmental charities - who are defending the nature directives.