Perfect Storm On The Way Warn Experts as Johnson Government Delays Delivery on Key Nature Bills. By Adam Colclough

Environmental campaigners have warned nature the UK faces a “perfect storm of threats” as the government delay passing eight key wildlife bills.

Dr Lissa Batey of the Wildlife Trust told the Guardian “We’re seeing a perfect storm of threats to nature from every quarter caused by government inaction, delay and reneging on commitments”.

The delayed bills cover issues including post-Brexit farming reforms, setting up a species reintroduction taskforce, and creating a national action plan on the sustainable use of pesticides.

The UK is one of the world’s most nature depleted countries, in 2019 The Ecologist reported that more that two fifths of animal, plant and insect species in the UK have declined in number since the 1970’s.

Speaking to The Ecologist in 2019 Rosie Hails of the National Trust said “We are now at a crossroads when we need to pull together with actions rather than words, to stop and reverse the decline of those species at risk, as well as protecting and creating new habitats in which they can thrive”.

Concerns have been expressed that the government’s commitment to environmental issues has declined along with the authority of prime minister Boris Johnson and will continue to do so as he becomes ever more reliant on the right wing of his party for survival.

Green Party MP Caroline Lucas told the Guardian “Time and again Boris Johnson has promised the earth when in reality he’s wrecking it. Our natural environment is in a dire state and in desperate need of restoration, yet every pledged policy – from peat and pesticides to bycatch and beavers – is being shamelessly chucked out”.

Adding that “By allowing himself to be held hostage by right-wing climate sceptics on the Tory backbenches, the prime minister is putting his own future above that of thriving natural environment.”

The damage already done to the UK’s wildlife by centuries of bad farming practices and poorly thought-out development was highlighted in late 2020 when Dr Andy Purvis of the Natural History Museum said the country had ‘led the world’ in degrading the natural environment.

This was said at the publication of research showing the UK to be at the bottom of the league table of G7 countries with only half its natural biodiversity left.

Speaking to the Guardian Dr Batey reiterated this point, saying “The government can’t keep stalling and jeopardising its targets to halt nature’s decline by 2030, reduce carbon emissions and, ultimately, tackle the biggest threats we face of biodiversity loss and climate change. This is urgent – we live in one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and we must take action, fast, for all our sakes.”

In response a spokesperson for the government said claims that action on protecting nature had been delayed showed a “complete lack of understanding of the ambitious policies we are putting in place to protect and restore our natural environment.”

The spokesperson went on to say the policies would be delivered, but did not give details of when this will happen.