The Chancellor's announcement about the spending review offers both reasons to cheer and reasons to rolls up our sleeves. On the plus side, there appears to be more money for wildlife-friendly farming, more money for action to tackle climate change, an opportunity for more money to support under-privileged children having contact with the natural world as part of their formal education. On the downside, the overall spending settlement means that other areas of environmental protection will lose out. While some details are still to emerge, we are concerned about what the cuts might mean for marine protected areas and for conservation of threatened species on the overseas territories...... Read Dr Mark Avery's blog on the spending cuts here!
Why not check out the news from the wildlife enquiries team?
Thanks Tom - interesting reading
As Mark says, 29% is much better than had been feared but it is still a socking great cut!
Good news about the increased support for wildlife-friendly farming and agri-environment schemes in England with funding increasing over the next three to four years.
It is clear that the RSPB has played its part by campaigning for a fair settlement for Nature and it is great to see so many members signing the Letter to the Future (over 315,000).
As Mark says, it's 'Not what we wanted, but better than we might have got!'.
Well done RSPB for helping to influence this outcome.
Cheers
Pipit
Hi Tom
Thanks for the link. That was an interesting read. I suppose it's a case of you win some and lose some.
Best wishes Chris
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Bumping this up Tom as I'm sure people will be interested in reading it.
Our shiny new podcast (published today) also features Mark Avery talking about the impact of the spending cuts. Listen to it here... http://www.rspb.org.uk/podcasts/
Emily
The Environment (as in Defra) took the third largest hit of any Government department . "Greenest ever Government" isn't cutting any ice with me I'm afraid.
Every day a little more irate about bird of prey persecution, and I have a cat - Got a problem with that?