The EU has been remarkably good at identifying and protecting its very best wildlife sites – and in turn some of our most threatened wildlife has been given a better chance of a safer future. Since the founding of the EU and the Common Market before it there has been a principle of not allowing the trashing of nature to give a competitive economic advantage of one member state over another. That’s not anti (good) development – but it is pro-nature and in a very effective way.
The laws that give force to that principle are the EU Nature Directives – the 1979 Birds Directive and the 1991 Habitats Directive. It is the responsibility of the member states (that includes us) to implement the Nature Directives and that has been patchy – as with any law its effectiveness is all in the implementation.
But back to the theme of this blog – today celebrates the very best wildlife sites across the EU. They are badged as ‘Natura 2000’ sites, a term that is not well known in the UK. Here are some examples that you may have heard of – the Thames Estuary, the Cairngorms, the Broads, Strangford Lough and Grassholm. If you want to explore what protected places are near you – here’s an interactive map from BirdLife International.
Here’s my son Jack celebrating last year’s Natura 2000 day with the Thames Estuary in the background (just the other side of the hedge)..
This year the stakes are high as the Nature Directives are under review. At a time when a widespread and mistaken belief that they are holding back economic recovery is echoing around governments and the EU, the review is a concern for conservation organisations across the UK and EU.
That’s where you can help. The evidence for the effectiveness of these crucial laws is strong (and 100 organisations including us have already made the case) but we need to show this matters to you – already over 100,000 people have added their voice in the first week of the campaign to Defend Nature.
Please celebrate Natura 2000 day by adding your voice to the call to defend nature and support the Nature Directives ... weakening these vital laws will leave our wildlife and the special places we love vulnerable as never before.
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