Our Priorities

Peter Cairns/2020VISION

Our priorities for UK and Welsh Governments

What we're calling for

The landmark 2023 State of Nature Report has shown that the UK – already classified as one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries in the world – is continuing to allow nature to decline.

The Wildlife Trusts are calling upon all political parties to commit to a plan to finally halt and reverse this trend. Their policies must be targeted towards species recovery, addressing water pollution, funding wildlife-friendly farming, enabling healthy communities, and tackling climate change.

Alongside Wildlife and Countryside Link’s Nature 2030 proposals, we want these asks to ensure all parties stand on a platform with nature’s recovery at its heart.

It has never been more evident that people care more about the state of their natural environment than ever before.

Although the environment, farming and fisheries are devolved (decided in Cardiff), we still need voters in Wales to send a clear message to MPs that they care about what’s happening to nature.

Five Priorities

Wildlife Trusts Wales has identified five priorities for MPs ahead of the next UK general election. We will also be asking Senedd politicians to back the same asks in the Welsh Government election in 2026.

Bring back the UK’s lost wildlife

The UK Government must work across departments to put nature into recovery by protecting and restoring at least 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. Beavers should be in every river catchment, a nature recovery network should join up wild places, and damaging fishing practices – such as bottom trawling – must be banned.

End river pollution

With the UK among the worst countries in Europe for water quality, the UK Government must sufficiently fund all enforcement agencies to do their job. By 2030, nutrient pollution from farming, sewage and development must at least be halved, there must be stronger protections for waterways, and more wetlands should be created to tackle flood and drought.

Fund wildlife-friendly farming

The destruction of nature and the impacts of climate change are the biggest threats to food security in the UK. Farmers must be supported and incentivised to help wildlife recover by creating more space for nature, significantly reducing pollution, and halving harm from pesticides by 2030. The budget for nature-friendly farming should increase to at least £4.4 billion a year, with a corresponding uplift for Welsh farmers.

Enable healthy communities

More than a third of people are unable to access green places near their homes. The UK Government must support the creation of more green space in neighbourhoods, fund and integrate green prescribing into community-based health services and enable all children to access outdoor learning opportunities.

Tackle the climate emergency by protecting and restoring natural habitats.

Nature can make a huge contribution to achieving net-zero targets if habitats are restored because peatlands, woodlands, and other wild places store carbon. Additionally, the UK Government must integrate climate adaptation strategies across all departments, create a nature recovery network to help wildlife adapt to change, protect blue carbon stores from damage, and invest in energy efficiency.

“The latest State of Nature report shows that despite some successes, the alarming ongoing decline of wildlife in Wales has not stopped...with 1 in 6 species in Wales now being threatened."

Rachel Sharp
Director of Wildlife Trusts Wales