Press Release
EU agricultural reforms are 'kick in the teeth' for wildlife
20 May 2008
A package of reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy announced by the EU today represents ‘a disaster for the UK’s wildlife’ says the Woodland Trust, whose worst fears have been realised.
The reforms do not include an adequate replacement for set-aside, which is now to be abolished.
Originally introduced to limit over-production, set-aside had the additional and critical benefit of providing invaluable habitats for wildlife across the whole landscape.
The Woodland Trust had previously called for set-aside to be replaced with requirements for all farmers to provide some wildlife habitat on their farms in order to qualify for the basic Single Farm Payment.
Instead, the EU is diverting more money into agri-environment schemes, which are voluntary and won’t provide the same landscape-wide wildlife benefits.
"The Trust supports the abolition of set-aside in theory, but our worst fears have been realised because nothing has been put in place to ensure its benefits to biodiversity are retained or replaced,” said Fran Hitchinson, Trust conservation policy officer.
"It’s a real kick in the teeth for wildlife and the landscape so many species depend on.
"This is potentially a disaster for the UK’s wildlife. Money is being diverted into agri-environment schemes, partly to fund projects to help combat climate change. But one of the best things we can do to help species survive and adapt in the face of a changing climate is to provide habitat across whole landscapes, which is exactly what set-aside achieved."
In the longer term, the Trust is calling for radical changes to agricultural policy so that farmers are rewarded for managing their land positively with the environment and biodiversity in mind, rather than the current outdated system which pays subsidies in return for simply complying with legal requirements.
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