WILDLIFE chiefs in Warwickshire have accused the government of launching an attack on nature.
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, alongside other nature charities, say recent government announcements pose a threat to wildlife, wild places, and water quality.
They claim new investment zones – which includes land around Coventry airport earmarked as home to a massive gigafactory manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles – threaten to weaken vital protections for habitats and wildlife.
And they have also hit out at the lifting of a ban on fracking and plans for a review of long-awaited Environmental Land Management Schemes, originally designed to reward farmers for restoring nature, climate proofing their business and preventing pollution from entering our rivers.
Developers are also currently required to complete ecological surveys, Environmental Impact Assessments, obtain Natural England licences, and perform tree and landscape surveys and flood risk assessments.
The gigafactory sits within the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) impact risk zone of Brandon Marsh nature reserve and near to Ryton Wood, which is also a designated SSSI.
It is also directly within the Nature Improvement Area, as well as being in the climate change vulnerability buffer zone.
WWT is concerned that speeding up processes in new investment zones may mean important environmental checks are not completed and fears damage done to wildlife in the area could be extensive as a result.
WWT CEO Ed Green said: “If you are happy that more than one in ten species are at risk of dying out. If you agree that nature is a barrier to economic growth and there’s no connection between food security and a healthy environment. If you are not worried that every river and lake in England currently fails chemical pollution standards and only 16 per cent are classed in good ecological condition, then do nothing.
“But if you are angry about this, and terrified the government is making things even worse, then share that anger with your MP and local councillor. Join #DefendNature and take action for nature by telling the government how you feel about their policies. Tell all the political parties too, demand from them a better, responsible and inspiring approach… tell them all what sort of environment you expect.”
The Observer has asked Conservative MPs – Kenilworth and Southam Conservative MP Sir Jeremy Wright and Rugby and Bulkington MP Mark Pawsey – to comment, but neither has yet responded.
