RSPB seeks European investigation after
failure to protect UK wildlife site
October 2012. The RSPB has submitted a
formal complaint to the European Commission over the handling of an estate in
the South Pennines where a protected area of blanket bog habitat is under
threat.
Following six months of investigation,
the charity believes Natural England has contravened European environmental
protection legislation in its dealings with the Walshaw Moor Estate, near
Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. The site is home to an important area of
blanket bog - a globally rare and threatened habitat of delicate mosses which
supports scarce breeding wading birds such as dunlin and golden plover. Walshaw
Moor is so vital for these species and habitats that it is protected by the
highest European environmental designations.
Burning and draining of the bog
The management of the estate - including burning and draining of the bog - has caused Natural England to raise serious concerns in recent years. However, in March this year, without a clear explanation, Natural England suddenly dropped legal proceedings against the estate, including a prosecution on 43 grounds of alleged damage.
The management of the estate - including burning and draining of the bog - has caused Natural England to raise serious concerns in recent years. However, in March this year, without a clear explanation, Natural England suddenly dropped legal proceedings against the estate, including a prosecution on 43 grounds of alleged damage.
Mike Clarke, RSPB chief executive, said:
"The decision to lodge this complaint has not been taken lightly, but this
is a vitally important issue which centres on the Government's statutory duty
to protect our natural environment.
No adequate explanation
"Natural England - the Government's wildlife watchdog - has dropped its prosecution without giving an adequate explanation and without securing restoration of this habitat. It has also entered into a management arrangement which we consider has fundamental flaws. This combination of actions is probably unlawful and will do little, if anything, to realise the Coalition Government's stated ambition to restore biodiversity.
"Natural England - the Government's wildlife watchdog - has dropped its prosecution without giving an adequate explanation and without securing restoration of this habitat. It has also entered into a management arrangement which we consider has fundamental flaws. This combination of actions is probably unlawful and will do little, if anything, to realise the Coalition Government's stated ambition to restore biodiversity.
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