22 Jun 2021
Hansard Rebecca Pow ‘It is, as ever, a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mr Hosie, especially on this auspicious World Oceans Day. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North Devon (Selaine Saxby) for securing this debate on this day. She expresses so much passion for the sea and the ocean, which […]
15 Jun 2021
The Angling Trust are maintaining their pressure on Defra in the face of rising pollution and EA budget cuts. This seems to be working and the first debate on the return of the Environment Bill dominated by water pollution. Angling Trust calls for more boots on the ground to enforce existing laws on pollution 21 […]
15 Jun 2021
Defra tenders £200k research project on current environment harms caused by farming in England The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has gone out to tender with a contract for a research project on current environment harms caused by farming and land management activities in England worth an estimated £200,000. Defra is looking to establish […]
08 Jun 2021
Another example of the way Defra and Ministers are approaching the growing problem of nutrient pollution from farming and other inputs. The most recent site example is the downgrading of ecological status on the Somerset levels. Angling Trust ‘Government says it has ‘no legal obligation’ to produce reports – six years after consent order. WWF, […]
08 Jun 2021
There is a torrent of information on the Defra website at present in connection with sustainable farming standards, including on how land managers can create lakes and ponds to benefit wildlife and improve the landscape. Defra ‘Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot: environmental outcomes and benefits The 8 standards include one on ‘Water Body Buffering’ will help […]
03 Jun 2021
The long pause in the Environment Bill has prompted more ideas for what might be included and several of these have been incorporated into the Bill – notably on sewage pollution from storm overflows and state of nature targets for wildlife. Defra Environment Bill continues through Parliament ‘New amendments will include legally-binding 2030 species target […]
01 Jun 2021
The appointment of Richard Benyon as Defra minister in the House of Lords has prompted a rethink within the NFFO on its approach to the management of marine protected areas. In a long blog post, NFFO sets out its views and concerns: “To this point, our approach has been to challenge the Government’s shift from […]
25 May 2021
Defra ‘In a speech delivered at Forestry England’s Delamere Forest, Environment Secretary George Eustice announced new measures to tackle climate change and the biodiversity crisis and deliver our net zero commitment. The Minister announced new action plans on trees and peatlands, as well as plans to boost biodiversity through a new species reintroduction task force and amendments […]
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