NWT response to the EU Referendum

The EU has provided a strong framework of wildlife protection and funding for environmental projects, which has reduced the speed of wildlife loss and begun to turn the tide of fortune for some species. The decision to leave the EU therefore brings significant long term risks for our wildlife and environment.

Throughout the Referendum campaign those who have promoted leaving the EU have assured us that funding for environmentally-friendly farming will be retained and developed further, and that legislation to protect wildlife will be strengthened, not weakened, in an independent UK.

In a period of transition and significant change we call upon all those involved in the negotiation to withdraw from the EU to protect existing funding agreements for wildlife, including Basic Payment Schemes, for as long as possible and honour commitments to secure funding and incentives for the protection of wildlife in the future.

Our country’s wildlife and marine environment and our positive influence on the world’s biodiversity must also be safeguarded and we will be looking to future Governments to engage positively and urgently with neighbouring countries on these issues.