WIREDGOV

A new survey shows a clear majority of the Welsh public don’t want the Government to forget about nature post-Brexit.

The poll, conducted by NFP Synergy, reveals that 64% agree that when we leave the European Union, they want measures to protect the environment to be strengthened¹.

Anne Meikle, Head of WWF Cymru says: “Our nature is in crisis and with months to go until Brexit, Welsh Government hasn’t set out a timeline for when they will act. We want to continue hearing the buzz of bees and enjoy watching the harbour porpoise splashing along our coastline.

Taking action now to protect and restore nature will ensure that iconic species such as the puffins of Skomer and Snowdon lily are here for future generations.”

The latest State of Nature report warned that one in 14 species in Wales is at risk of disappearing altogether². Charities in Wales – WWF Cymru, RSPB Cymru and Wildlife Trusts Wales – are calling for urgent action before it’s too late.

Rachel Sharp, CEO of Wildlife Trusts Wales says: “Nature is at the heart of Welsh culture and history, it’s the basis of our biggest industries, and it sustains us with our life support, clean water, air and the food we eat.  

But with most of our environmental protections coming from the EU, Welsh Government needs to act urgently to ensure our environmental legislation is as good if not better after we leave the EU.”  

This call comes as the UK Government’s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs consults on future arrangements for environmental governance, and enshrining environmental principles from the EU into domestic law – but their approach has been heavily criticised by environmental campaigners. The Welsh Government has committed to legislate on these issues for Wales, but no detail has yet emerged as to how and when it will do so, or how it will collaborate with the other governments of the UK to ensure shared high standards are maintained after Brexit.

Annie Smith, Sustainable Development Manager for RSPB Cymru, says: “We welcome Welsh Government’s commitment to ensure environmental standards are maintained and improved following Brexit. Securing a governance body that will enforce our legislation, so we don’t have a gap when we leave the EU, is a critical part of that.”

The three charities will be stepping up their public campaigns in the coming months as the Brexit deadline nears. WWF Cymru is urging supporters to join its online campaign to ‘fight for Welsh nature’ at wwf.wales/welshnature

NOTES TO EDITORS

For further information, please contact: Heini Evans, Tel: +44 (0) 29 20538505, Email: HEvans@wwf.org.uk

1. “64% agree that when we leave the European Union, they want measures to protect the environment to be strengthened¹.” - NFP Synergy CCAM survey, June 2018.

nfpSynergy • 2-6 Tenter Ground • Spitalfields • London • E1 7NH. T: 020 7426 8888. E: insight@nfpsynergy.net

nfpSynergy is a research consultancy that aims to provide the ideas, insights and information to help non-profits thrive. We help charities track their profile and engagement amongst their key stakeholder groups through regular, syndicated surveys. We also work with charities on bespoke projects, providing a range of quantitative and qualitative research services.

2. “Over 5,000 of the species that are known to occur in Wales have been assessed using modern Red List criteria. 354 (7%) of these are at risk of extinction from Great Britain.” – State of Nature 2016 report: https://www.rspb.org.uk/globalassets/downloads/documents/conservation-projects/state-of-nature/stateofnature2016_wales_english.pdf

WWF Cymru:

Join the fight for Welsh Nature: https://www.wwf.org.uk/wales/welshnature

To find out more about WWF Cymru’s work please visit our website: www.wwf.wales

Follow @WWFCymru on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram

WWF is one of the world’s largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, creating solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature thrive.

RSPB Cymru:

Media contact: Natasha Yorke-Edgell, Tel: +44 (0) 2920 353 047, Email: natashayorke-edgell@rspb.org.uk

Tell the UK Government it must strengthen its watchdog proposals and work with the devolved nations so nature is protected across borders https://e-activist.com/page/25754/action/1?ea.tracking.id=Campaign_with_us_webpage

RSPB Cymru is part of the RSPB, the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. Together with our partners, we protect threatened birds and wildlife so our towns, coast and countryside will teem with life once again. We play a leading role in BirdLife International, a worldwide partnership of nature conservation organisations. www.rspb.org.uk

Wildlife Trust Wales:

Media contact: James Byrne, Tel: +44 (0) 7714 982 961 jbyrne@wtwales.org

Wildlife Trusts Wales believe passionately that wildlife and natural processes need to have space to thrive, beyond designated nature reserves and other protected sites. Our network of local Wildlife Trusts is the largest voluntary organisation in Wales dedicated to protecting wildlife and wild places. Together we manage 216 nature reserves covering more than 8,000 hectares, and we are supported by 25,000 members.