Nature faces a “perfect storm of threats”, campaigners say, after eight wildlife bills promised by Boris Johnson since coming to power have so far failed to see the light of day.
The government has been accused of reneging on commitments by failing to deliver policies on nature-friendly farming, the use of peat and pesticides, reintroducing beavers and other lost species, and protecting rare marine life.
There are fears that the ambition to enhance England’s biodiversity has been lost after the prime minister’s authority became weakened and he is having to listen to the right wing of the Conservative party, which views green measures as too expensive.
Johnson’s headline ambition in his speech to Conservative conference last year was to “build back beaver”, promising they would soon be released into the English countryside, but the government has still not granted permission for the rodents to be released. Conservationists had expected to be given the green light by early summer this year.
Craig Bennett, the chief executive of the Wildlife Trusts, said “We are still waiting for approval to release beavers. It is one of many examples of laws which we have been promised, but have not come through.”
Other promised bills that have not appeared include a ban on horticultural peat use, which has been consulted on but no legislation has been put forward. This would help halt the destruction of England’s peatlands, which are one of the most significant stores of carbon in the country.
The government also last year promised to form a species reintroduction taskforce, which would look at how to bring back animals that are extinct or almost extinct in England. Despite applications for the chair of the taskforce closing in February there have been no further announcements.
On rewilding, the government has not legislated on the recommendations in the landscapes review, such as amending the statutory purpose to ensure the core function of protected landscapes should be to drive nature recovery.
There have also been fears that the government has rowed back on pesticides after promises for an integrated pest management scheme to be included in the new farming subsidies did not come to fruition. Ministers have also not published, as promised, a national action plan on the sustainable use of pesticides.
Dr Lissa Batey, the head of marine conservation at the Wildlife Trusts, said: “We’re seeing a perfect storm of threats to nature from every quarter caused by government inaction, delay and reneging on commitments.
“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.”
Caroline Lucas, Green MP, said: “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.
“By allowing himself to be held hostage by rightwing climate sceptics on the Tory backbenches, the prime minister is putting his own future above that of thriving natural environment.”
The government denied it was failing to deliver on promised wildlife laws. A spokesperson said: “This is categorically untrue and demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the ambitious policies we are putting in place to protect and restore our natural environment.”
The spokesperson said many of the policies would be delivered in coming years but did not specify when.
The eight delayed wildlife bills
Post-Brexit farming reforms – The government has broken its promise to reform farming post-Brexit. In its national food strategy for England published earlier this month the government’s commitment to provide a third of its farming budget for landscape recovery has been abandoned.
Ban on horticultural peat use – The government has consulted on the ban on the sale of peat and products containing peat in England and Wales after the failure of voluntary targets. Over 12 weeks (the usual time limit for responding) have passed and the government has yet to respond to the consultation. There was also no clear legislative vehicle in the recent Queen’s speech to enact the ban.
Beaver reintroductions – Last year, the government consulted on further reintroductions of beavers in England following the successful River Otter beaver trial. The government has yet to publish its response to the consultation or announce its approach to the reintroduction of beavers in England. This was part of the secretary of state’s announcement at Delamere Forest in May 2021.
Species reintroduction taskforce – Also part of that announcement was the commitment to establish an England species reintroduction taskforce to consider reintroductions of lost species such as wildcats, as well as the release of declining species such as the curlew, into areas from which they have been lost to help populations recover.
National action plan on the sustainable use of pesticides – The UK government consulted on the draft national action plan in December 2020 but has yet to publish the final version of its plan to replace the 2013 version.
Landscapes review – Despite responding to the landscapes review, the government has yet to legislate for the recommendations it accepted, such as amending the statutory purpose to ensure the core function of protected landscapes should be to drive nature recovery in England.
Integrated pest management – The government has yet to confirm whether key components of the new agricultural system, such as integrated pest management, will be included in the new sustainable farming incentive from next year.
Bycatch mitigation initiative – A policy to protect rare marine life from being unintentionally caught by fishers was approved in March but has not come to fruition, after being expected in May.
