The Scottish Wildlife Trust has called for a greener Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that protects and enhances wildlife and the ecosystems on which farming depends.

Ahead of critical decisions on the CAP’s future, the Scottish Parliament will today debate what its reform will mean for Scotland. The CAP has the biggest budget in the EU, so it is important that it delivers multiple benefits for taxpayers above and beyond food production.  

Speaking ahead of the debate in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon, Living Landscapes Policy Officer Bruce Wilson said:

“We want to see a greener CAP that delivers for the environment, so that species such as the song thrush and pearl-bordered fritillary have more of a chance to recover. We need to stop rewarding intensive farming practices that have unintended consequences such as polluting rivers and contributing to climate change. We see the “greening” of direct payments to farmers as a step in the right direction towards restoring ecosystem health at a landscape scale.”

This Summer the Scottish Wildlife Trust has been highlighting what it would like to see from a greener CAP by engaging with Scottish and European Parliamentarians.

Click here to see the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s briefing for this afternoon’s debate.