Defence of the Nature Directives

Defence of the Nature Directives The RSPB has just launched a campaign in defence of the Nature (Birds & Habitat) Directives, and this is a plea for your support. The Directives provide essential protection to our rarest and most threatened species, and safeguard the best habitats for supporting a diversity of wildlife in Wales, the UK and across much of Europe. They drive the fundamental aspects of conservation in the most important places – from managing sites and protecting them from development, to protecting species from human persecution. Before the Directives came into being we were simply fighting to stop loss and damage to our most precious wildlife sites. With them, we are able to work with others to restore nature – to create a world richer in nature. The Nature Directives are now being subjected to a ‘Fitness Check’ under the EU’s Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT). This will assess whether they are doing the job which they were intended for – to protect European important habitats and species. There is a real concern across the EU that some politicians want to weaken the Nature Directives. We firmly believe that the Nature Directives are fit for purpose, and that rather than weakening them, the European Commission should be focusing on improving how they are implemented across all European countries. We believe they are better for wildlife, better for business, and crucially better for people. You can find out more about the RSPB’s campaign by going to our website, which includes an opportunity to take direct action. This will just take just a few minutes of your time - please help us win this battle. Please act, and act today! Thank you Arfon [Countryside Manager for RSPB Cymru]