Act now or English wildlife is lost 'for ever'
ENGLAND’S wild-life is “increasingly under threat” even in top nature reserves, Government advisers warn today.
Without swift action there is a “real danger” our most precious wild species will be “lost for ever”.
Natural England, which advises on the environment, even called for a new national park along the length of England’s coastline. It said the £2.9billion of taxpayers’ money spent every year on green land management should be “better targeted”.
And it issued a new manifesto calling for a radical rethink on how wildlife and wild habitats are protected, particularly in the face of climate change.
Species under threat range from wading birds like the snipe, lapwing and redshank to butterflies like the high brown fritillary.
Natural England said too many species were holed up in nature reserves, unable to reach populations in other protected areas.
Its report warned: “We are now locked into at least 50 years of unavoidable climate change. Wildlife is increasingly isolated in protected areas, unable to move within the changing climate.”
Dr Helen Phillips, chief executive of NE, said: “We need to find ways to manage our landscape so we can help wildlife survive.”
We are now locked into at least 50 years of unavoidable climate change.
She said this could be “through a new ‘national park’ around the length of England’s coastline, better use of the green belt or improved use of public funding for farmers to deliver a better natural environment.
“If we don’t act, there’s a real danger some of our most precious wildlife will be lost for ever and our lives will be poorer for it.”