The UK is lagging behind other European Union countries in nature conservation, according to statistics from the European Commission.
On the back of these figures, the RSPB is challenging the UK government to set a better example to the rest of Europe.
The European Union has among the best environmental laws in the world, but information from the European Commission shows that some EU countries, including the UK, are not implementing the EU’s nature conservation directives fully enough, particularly the EU Birds Directive, which will have been in force for 30 years on Thursday 2 April, 2009.
A Commission league table shows that the UK still has an incomplete network of sites for bird conservation, putting it behind at least 10 other EU countries, including Belgium, France, Estonia and Denmark.
Andre Farrar, is the RSPB’s protected areas campaigner. He said: “The UK has some of the finest conservation treasures in Europe and we should be setting a lead example in Europe for bird protection.”
According to European Commission statistics, the UK has 265 Special Protection Areas, designated under the European Union’s Birds Directive. This amounts to just over six per cent of the UK’s land surface area. Of the 27 members of the European Union, only five countries have a smaller percentage of their land area designated as Special Protection Areas. Romania has many designated sites, but it hasn’t declared the percentage of its land area to the commission.
For many species of seabird, the UK has the largest populations within the European Union. Andre Farrar added: “Of particular concern is the lack of sites protected for seabirds at sea. Considering we have some of the largest populations of some seabirds in Europe or even the world, it is staggering that the number of marine designated sites falls below those of many other European countries.”
Kate Humble, wildlife presenter and RSPB vice-president, said: “The Birds Directive is 30 years old this year. This legislation protects land throughout Europe and that is vital to the survival of its birds and its wildlife. For 30 years it has been safeguarding Europe's natural world - an achievement well worth celebrating.”
Alistair Gammell is the RSPB’s international director. He said: “The deepening pressures on our natural world, not least those of a changing climate, indicate to me that, 30 years on, the Birds Directive has an ever more crucial role in safeguarding Europe’s wildlife heritage. Not only for our benefit and enjoyment, but to hand on these very special places and their species to future generations of Europeans, who have a right to enjoy them too.”