With the general election on 4th July looming, Cornwall Wildlife Trust is urging voters to prioritise nature when they are at the ballot box, calling on Cornwall’s future MPs to be powerful advocates for wildlife.
Recent polling by the Wildlife Trusts suggests the public care for nature and want more done for its protection and restoration, with more than 50% of people considering environmental matters to be at least as important as other issues facing the country.
Yet despite being a priority for voters, there is concern the needs of nature and climate have largely been ignored or deprioritised by political parties during election campaigning.
Matt Walpole, Chief Executive of Cornwall Wildlife Trust says: “There are many important issues being considered in this election, but on the whole political parties are failing to grasp the depth of concern about the continued decline of nature and what it means for all of us. Nature underpins everything else – a healthy society, food production, our economy.”
The Trust previously released five key asks for Cornwall’s six MPs to champion in the next parliament. These include tackling river and coastal pollution, increasing funding for nature-friendly farming, and bringing back the UK’s lost wildlife, including through the issuing of licences for unenclosed beavers in appropriate locations.
Earlier this year, beavers were confirmed at Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Helman Tor nature reserve, likely the result of an unlicenced release by an unknown third party. The Trust believes existing – but not yet implemented – government plans to issue wild release licences for appropriate locations will benefit nature and people, while reducing potential for unlicensed releases and their associated risks.
Cheryl Marriott, Director of Nature and People at Cornwall Wildlife Trust says: “The evidence is clear. Beavers can have a remarkable impact on biodiversity, flood resilience, drought protection and water quality, and we should have more of them released responsibly under licence in appropriate places in Cornwall and across the country.
We also urgently need to see a doubling of the nature-friendly farming budget, so farmers are properly supported in making space for nature”
Over 3,800 people have already supported these five key asks for nature by signing an open letter, which Cornwall Wildlife Trust will deliver to Cornwall’s successful parliamentary candidates on 5th July. Hundreds more have attended nature and climate hustings hosted across Cornwall.
Cheryl Marriott continues: “Cornwall Wildlife Trust looks forward to working with Cornwall’s MPs. We have the local community links, knowledge and experience to advise on the challenges and opportunities facing nature locally, and the action needed from those in power.”
The Trust is still calling on people to urge their next MPs to call for nature-friendly policies by signing their open letter.
To assist voters in making informed decisions, The Wildlife Trusts have provided summaries of what each political manifesto promises for nature and the environment. These summaries cover the positions of the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Green Party, and Reform UK.
To find out more about what we have been doing to call on our future MPs to be powerful advocates for wildlife in Cornwall, read our latest blog.