Sir David Attenborough has warned that the erosion of wildlife from the planet will threaten our quality of life. Sir David's comments came as he was preparing to speak at the RSPB's Conference for Nature which brings together politicians led by Nick Clegg, industry figures and conservation groups.
During the conference itself, Sir David warned that nature reserves and national parks were simply not enough to prevent a decline in nature. Explaining why he thought British wildlife was in danger, Sir David said, "50% of the hedgehog population has gone in 25 years, 90% of the wildlife meadows have disappeared in 100 years; 60% of all wildlife is diminishing and in danger, with 10% doomed to disappear in the next decades. Nowhere in Britain is unsullied, is unaffected by human action. We now have a huge population living cheek by jowl with nature".
However, Sir David has reiterated that everyone has the chance to save nature if they simply act now.
This news comes at the same time as an unpublished report by Natural England suggests that wildflower meadows are in danger, the BBC reported. It is claimed that 98% of English meadows have been lost as a result of farming, with the loss rate increasing after the EU said it would protect grasslands.
Stephen Trotter, director of the Wildlife Trust, said, "These precious and important habitats were once ubiquitous – vital for pollinators and rare species; they’re now rare and vulnerable – and the mechanisms to protect them are failing."
Many believe that the significant cuts imposed on Natural England has compromised its ability to protect our natural environment. For instance, the RSPB's Gwyn Williams said, "Natural England’s ability to deliver its statutory purpose - to protect and conserve the nature of England - is being compromised. It will have halved head count between 2009 and 2015, as well as seeing many experienced senior staff leave the organisation. Government has also altered Natural England's mandate such that it is no longer seen or able to act as the trenchant champion of nature envisaged when it was created in 2006. This position may become even worse through the Deregulation Bill, currently in the House of Lords, which gives every Government agency the statutory purpose of seeking economic growth."
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