A dramatic decline in our remaining wildlife-rich grasslands is highlighted by The Wildlife Trusts in a report collated from across the country which tells a story of devastating losses.
Stephen Trotter, The Wildlife Trusts’ director, England, said: "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 have been collecting information on the state of valuable grassland sites in England such as ancient meadows, pastures and road verges.
The information gathered so far has provided a snapshot of the situation on the ground. The data is startling. For example:
- Nottinghamshire: out of 392 local wildlife sites containing neutral grassland 99 (25%) have been de-selected since 2005.
- Worcestershire: in this county renowned for its classic traditional lowland hay meadows, it is estimated that 48 sites (24%), comprising around 240 hectares, out of a total of 200 grassland local wildlife sites have been lost, damaged or reduced to sub-optimal condition since 2005.
- Cumbria: surveys of upland hay meadow local wildlife sites between 2008-2011 led to the de-selection of 35 (27%) out of a total of 128 sites. At 15 of the sites the traditional hay meadows previously present had completely disappeared. In the Lake District National Park surveys of 223.47 hectares of hay meadow wildlife sites between the late 1970s and early 2000s led to a staggering 183.26 hectares (82%) being de-selected as local wildlife sites.
The Wildlife Trusts are calling for a review of protection for environmentally important grasslands – more must be done to strengthen policy and regulations to prevent further losses.
"If we don’t act fast we’ll lose the natural heritage that has inspired writers and artists through generations – from Shakespeare to Hockney," Stephen Trotter said.
"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."
The Wildlife Trusts are calling for a full review of existing protection for environmentally important grasslands and are asking the Government to:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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