Ahead of the Scottish Government’s statement on the Common Agricultural Policy in Parliament this afternoon, the Scottish Wildlife Trust is urging the Government to maximise monies allocated to protecting and enhancing Scotland’s wildlife and agricultural ecosystems.
The Trust’s concerns are backed by a recent study in Science,1 which shows that CAP’s greening measures have become so diluted, that nature is unlikely to benefit. However, there is flexibility within the EU funding system and it is up to Member States and Regions, such as Scotland, to use this flexibility to prioritise the protection of farmland habitats and species. Such an investment will also increase the resilience of Scotland's agricultural sector to a changing climate.
Jonny Hughes, Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust said: “It’s crunch time for farmland wildlife.
“We know from the recently published State of the Environment Report 2014, which drew on the expertise of over 90 specialists to assess the health of Scotland’s environment, that changing farming practices have led to the serious decline of some very familiar farmland birds in Scotland such as the skylark, curlew and lapwing.2 Agricultural intensification has also led to the disappearance of other wildlife such as bumblebees, butterflies and hedgehogs.
“We want the Scottish Government to allocate the maximum amount of taxpayers’ monies to agri-environment schemes to help put back the lost hedgerows, wildflower margins, wetland areas and ponds. Restoring wildlife habitats increases farmland biodiversity, which is a good thing for farmers too as it makes soils more fertile and productive, increases pollination, genetic diversity and the chances of biological pest control.
“What makes good ecological sense almost always makes good economic sense and it's high time Scottish Ministers understood the direct link between healthy nature and healthy food production systems. Pollinators alone are worth at least £43 million to Scotland's economy annually.”
References
1. The recent study in Science (Vol 344 Issue 6188) was by Pe’er et al 2014, entitled “EU agricultural reform fails on biodiversity”.
2. Scotland’s State of Environment Report 2014 was produced by Scotland’s Environment Website Partnership, which comprises representatives from Scottish Government, local government, public organisations, NGOs, universities and research institutes. A copy can be downloaded at: www.environment.scotland.gov.uk/get-informed/state-of-the-environment-summary