Please take ten minutes to read this blog, watch a film and, in a few clicks, take action for nature.
Today, we launch our campaign to defend the EU Nature Directives.
As I have written recently (see here and here), the Directives have, for over 30 years underpinned nature conservation in the UK and across Europe. They've helped save sites, recovered species and allowed us find ways to develop sustainably by guiding smart development and compensating for damage caused.
If properly implemented, the laws would get us back on track to meet our biodiversity commitments. If weakened, then we have no chance. Wildlife would be put at risk along with those things we take for granted such as the places we love and the free life-supporting services that nature gives us.
And our concern is shared by others.
We've joined forces with 100 organisations across the UK to publish a position statement warning that the European Commission’s REFIT ‘Fitness Check’ of the Birds and Habitats Directives is the single biggest threat to UK and European nature and biodiversity in a generation. This view is shared across Europe and our collaboration extends to four international networks: Birdlife International, the European Environment Bureau, Friends of the Earth and WWF.
We're calling on our supporters across Europe to use their voice for nature through the Commission's consultation. The consultation is quite long and technical, so we’ve pre-answered a subset of questions (alongside explanations of the answers) that people can submit to the Commission via a few simple clicks. Please just take a few moments respond to the consultation here. Just two minutes of your time could help make a crucial difference to the future of our wildlife.
If you need any further inspiration to act, please do watch this film, then visit our campaign pages here.
127485163
Martin.
Of course we must defend nature but as it's 'quite long and technical' we must be careful not to think that 'a few simple clicks' and a glossy film will save it.
Yes 'take action now' - but engage us and change how we consume today so that so called 'fitness checks' aren't required so often on nature and for that sake, on ourselves www.scribd.com/.../If-you-love-wildlife-stop-eating-all-its-food-Camilla-Cavendish-in-The-Times
Both nature and humans require 'wellbeing' - from provision of habitat for the former and producing affordable food for the latter - the two are inextricably linked.
To explore this at a Hay Festival debate 21 May www.hayfestival.com/p-9553-rob-yorke-tim-lang-and-george-freeman.aspx
Yours aye
www.robyorke.co.uk