The Cornwall Wildlife Trust is urging the Government to set out more ambitious targets for nature.
What is being proclaimed as the most important global summit for nature in decades – the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, also known as COP15 – starts in Canada today (Dec 7).
And what happens there, says the Trust, will directly affect wildlife in Cornwall.
The conference comes at a time when the latest study suggests the Earth’s wildlife has plummeted by almost 70% in the last 50 years. The state of nature in Cornwall is said not to be much better and it is being claimed recent Government action and inaction threatens to make a bad situation even worse.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust chief executive, Matt Walpole, said: “Bold action is needed to tackle the twin nature and climate crises at COP15. The next eight years need be ones of dramatic improvement for nature in order to fulfil the proposal to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030 – something that the UK has already promised to do.
“In Cornwall we are working hard to restore nature – to help wildlife recover and to help us mitigate and adapt to a changing climate. But recent Government decisions – as well as lack of action in other areas – undermine nature’s ability to recover.
“We believe, for example, that diluting plans to support nature-friendly farming would be devastating. Healthy nature and secure food production go hand in hand – our farm advisors at Cornwall Wildlife Trust see this every day in their work with farmers. Our specialist staff work to support farmers, working together to benefit long-term food production and biodiversity.
“We need to see the Government set out far more ambitious targets for nature if it’s to keep its commitment to pass the environment on in a better state to the next generation.”
