The Trust is calling for European nature laws to be protected following the release of the European State of Nature Report.

The report shows that much of Europe’s wildlife is in peril, with once common species such as skylark in rapid decline. The picture is reflected in Scottish species where kestrel, curlew and song thrush have suffered a worrying population crash. By far the biggest pressure reported on species and habitats across Europe is from agriculture. Some species such as the otter, which is found on nearly every river in Scotland, were found to be stable across Europe following concerted conservation efforts and through strict statutory protection.

However, the European Commission's Regulatory Fitness and Performance programme (REFIT) could risk this recovery. REFIT is currently evaluating European laws and their implementation including the vital Birds and Habitats Directives. These laws protect Europe’s threatened species such as the wildcat and red kite, as well as vulnerable species with a stronghold in Scotland such as freshwater pearl mussel, and could be weakened as a result of the REFIT programme.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is campaigning to Defend Nature and is urging the public to join up with European citizens to send a strong message to the EU that there can be no compromises when it comes to protecting wildlife.

Head of Policy and Planning for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Dr Maggie Keegan, said: “The European State of Nature report clearly shows a shocking decline in some once common species. It also shows that enshrining protection in law, backed up by targeted conservation action, gives once rare species the best possible chance for survival. 

“The Scottish Wildlife Trust would urge the public to help ‘Defend Nature’ by joining our campaign to prevent the weakening of these vital European nature laws by visiting scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/DefendNature.”