The Wildlife Trusts call on Government to save remaining wildlife-rich grasslands and help farmers halt ‘catastrophic’ decline.
A dramatic decline in our remaining wildlife-rich grasslands is highlighted by The Wildlife Trusts today. Reports collated across the country tell a story of devastating losses.
Wildlife-rich grasslands provide great benefits to society and are vital resources: for bees and other pollinators which we all rely on; for the abundance of nature which depends on wild grasses and flowers, from butterflies to barn owls; for securing soils and enabling landscapes to hold and filter water, preventing flooding and pollution; for carbon storage, and as living museums which have evolved over millennia. These beautiful and valuable habitats are vanishing – and the dazzling array of species that depend on them are under threat.
Stephen Trotter, The Wildlife Trusts’ Director, England, says: “Wildlife-rich grasslands have been in trouble for decades, but our newly collated information shows that the remaining hay meadows and flower-rich pastures are still at risk. We’re seeing an insidious yet catastrophic decline. The pressures are enormous: from development and changes in agricultural practices, to neglect.
"The Government is currently making decisions on how it will implement the greening measures of the Common Agricultural Policy and how it will target grants to farmers in the future. We are calling on Ministers to take full account of the value of our remaining wildlife-rich grasslands and the threats they face as they make these decisions.”
The Wildlife Trusts are also calling for a review of protection for environmentally important grasslands – more must be done to strengthen policy and regulations to prevent further losses. Stephen Trotter explains: “If we don’t act fast we’ll lose the natural heritage that has inspired writers and artists through generations – from Shakespeare to Hockney.
"If we don’t act now we’ll lose an important natural resource that benefits farming, wildlife and people. The shocking examples of our best sites in decline should be a wake-up call for Government to start working now with farmers, local authorities and nature organisations to halt the loss.”
In Norfolk, we looked at County Wildlife Site meadows across Norfolk in 2008, a report which will be updated later in the year. It found:
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the majority of the sites assessed (69% of sites) are in poor or declining condition. Only 5% of those visited were judged to be in good or excellent condition.
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10% were in such poor condition that they no longer met the standard to be registered as a County Wildlife Site.
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The main problems faced by species-rich grasslands were inappropriate management and total neglect (no management). The main driver for meadows not being managed appropriately was a lack of resources.
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On a more positive note, the report found that the majority of sites that were well cared for had benefited from support and advice from NWT.
The Wildlife Trusts are calling for a full review of existing protection for environmentally important grasslands. We are asking the Government to:
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Improve existing laws and policies and effectively enforce them – Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations need to be strengthened and grasslands should be given better protection through planning policy.
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Support wildlife-rich grasslands on farmland – Farmers should be fully rewarded for managing important grasslands (eg through farm environment schemes) and stronger requirements for protection should be attached to the direct payments all farmers receive from the public purse.
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Award statutory protection to more grassland sites that deserve it – Species-rich grassland sites that qualify should become protected SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) as quickly as possible.
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Set up a national grassland inventory – A new national inventory of important grasslands in England needs to be established with sustained monitoring of sites in the future.
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Restore more wildlife-rich grasslands – Grassland restoration projects delivered in partnership with landowners by local Wildlife Trusts, Plantlife and others should be encouraged and sustained.
The Wildlife Trusts are today launching an e-petition aimed at Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson, for five weeks. Please sign and share it.