During the debate on Brexit (“We’ll hold all the cards”) the Conservative Party were assuring us that all the protections for wildlife and the environment put in place by the European Union (EU) would stay or even be strengthened. For some time now we have been looking at this pledge to see how it is going.

We have been hearing for some time that the government in Westminster is seeking to remove the protection afforded to certain areas and species in the European Union Habitats Directive (HD).

In the UK the HD covers a number mammal species including many bats, the beaver, the otter, the grey seal. the harbour seal, the dolphin and the harbour porpoise. The protection afforded to these species is considered by many conservationists to be the gold standard at the present time. The protection is extensive and should, in theory, be well enforced although the case of the Tay beavers suggests that it leaves much to be desired.

Recently George Eustice Secretary of State at the Department of Food, the Environment and Rural Affairs announced to the Countryside Alliance reception at the Conservative Party conference a review of the Habitats Regulations which transferred the Habitats Directive and Wild Birds Directives from EU law.

We will have to wait to see where this ‘review’ goes but all the evidence currently available suggests that the intention is to seriously weaken if not completely neuter the protection afforded by the HD.

In Westminster we have a government who have little time for conservation unless it is linked to shooting ‘game’ and a keenness to withdraw unilaterally from international agreements, especially those involving the European Union things are looking bad for our wildlife and natural habitats.

In Holyrood we have a government who have seem to have achieved the political neutering of the Green Party by giving them seats in government.

We are entering very uncertain and worrying times for our wildlife and natural heritage. What many of us have come to regard as the status quo looks about to be rudely overturned. We need to give serious thought about were we go from here and how we might be able to get there.

Our wild mammals have not faced such a serious threat for over a hundred years.

STAY TUNED.