‘DEVASTATING’ declines in nature must be urgently addressed by politicians, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WWT) has said.
A new report from wildlife organisations, including the Trust, shows nature is continuing to decline at an ‘alarming’ rate across the UK, already one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.
WWT says that in Warwickshire, 11 per cent of ancient woodland has been lost in the past century, one species of wildflower goes extinct every three years, and there have been no recorded sightings of adders since 2004 and no breeding nightingales in the past seven years.
The State of Nature 2023 report says one in six species is now at risk of being lost from Great Britain, with the wildlife studied having declined by an average of 19 per cent since 1970, and most important habitats are in poor condition.
WWT has called on politicians of all parties to commit to bringing back the UK’s lost wildlife, ending river pollution and water scarcity, funding wildlife-friendly farming, enabling healthy communities, and tackling the climate emergency by protecting and restoring natural habitats.
The Trust’s Chief Executive Ed Green said: ‘We desperately need wilder and more natural areas to help wildlife recover, enable nature to adapt to climate change and create healthier, happier, and more prosperous communities.
“Nature recovery is the answer to so many social challenges and it’s up to our elected representatives to ensure that is reflected in policies ahead of the next election.
“We have seven short years to make good on two big promises by 2030 – protecting 30 per cent of land and sea for nature, and limiting climate change to 1.5C of warming by reducing global greenhouse gas emissions by 43 per cent. Two promises made to the rest of the world by the UK.”
Visit https://tinyurl.com/5d62wcyh for more information on the top five priorities highlighted by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.
Visit https://tinyurl.com/mt36upd3 to read the State of Nature Report.
