Defra: ELMS (Environmental Land Management Scheme) & Subsidies ELMS (the planned system for rewarding farmers for their environmental work) is under review Any watering-down of ELMS would be a highly damaging move away from the principle of public money paid for environmental good and back to a system of subsidies based on land ownership.

Government to scrap EU nature protection legislation The Retained EU Law Bill would drop/amend retained EU laws and introduce deregulated investment zones. The Bill would scrap: Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (which protect hundreds of wildlife sites from unsustainable development) Water Environment Regulations 2017: which guard against river pollution. Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010: imposing limits on toxic air pollution. The Marine Strategy Regulations 2010: protection for our seas and sea life.

Response to Government plans Three major Conservation Groups have come out against the Government plans: Wildlife Trusts: Craig Bennett, chief executive, said: “What you’ve seen in the space of the last week is Liz Truss’s government basically trashing all the environmental commitments that were in the 2019 manifesto.” National Trust: Hilary McGrady, Director General, said: “Rather than ramp up action to support our environment, this Government appears …to be heading in the opposite direction…. The new Investment Zones represent a free-for-all for nature and heritage…. Likewise a rumoured return to EU-style land subsidies will squander one of the biggest Brexit opportunities for nature, fatally undermining improvements to the nature, soil and water….”

RSPB: “Make no mistake, we are angry. The Government has launched an unprecedented attack on nature and the laws that protect it. We need to defend our vulnerable and vital wild places, now. Don’t let this happen in your name.”

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