On Thursday 23 June people in the UK will vote on whether to remain in or leave the European Union. Our environment is shaped by Scottish, UK and European legislation and we believe it should have a high profile in the debate around the referendum.

We also believe that both sides should be asked questions about how their favoured outcome will affect wildlife, which is why the Scottish Wildlife Trust has adopted a neutral position.

The Trust is a member of two organisations – the UK-wide movement of The Wildlife Trusts and Scottish Environment LINK. Both of these bodies have collated information and reports that explore the impact of the referendum on our environment. You can find these below.

The Wildlife Trusts

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is one of 47 individual Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK and the Isle of Man and Alderney that collectively form The Wildlife Trusts.

The Wildlife Trusts have considered the impact of the referendum on the UK's environment and jointly with the RSPB and WWF-UK commissioned this report from the Institute of European Environmental Policy to help inform people ahead of the vote.

Scottish Environment LINK

Scottish Environment LINK is a forum of 35 voluntary environment organisations (including the Scottish Wildlife Trust) who share the common goal of contributing to a more environmentally sustainable society.

LINK has collated several reports on the relationship between the referendum and our environment, and issued a challenge to both campaigns to demonstrate how their preferred option can deliver on several aspirations for the future.