By means of a petition the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to invest in nature-friendly farming. The Government is currently considering the budgets ahead of its Comprehensive Spending Review and according to the charity, the farming budget – “the biggest pot of funding for nature” is in the firing line.
With 70% of UK land used for farming, this sector is key to nature’s recovery. The RSPB explains that any cut in the budget would be a disaster for nature and farming. “We need more funding for nature-friendly farming, not less”, explains the RSPB. Investment, which currently stands at £3.5 billion annually, needs to be increased to £5.9 billion to support nature-friendly practices that boost biodiversity, improve water quality, and make farms more resilient to extreme weather. This investment, along with long-term commitments, says the RPSB is vital for the UK to hit our nature and climate targets.
In support, the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN), CEO Martin Lines highlighted a £358 million underspend of the farming budget by the previous administration as a clear sign that not enough is being done to help farmers transition to sustainable practices. “We need a farming budget that actually works. Current funding levels just aren’t enough to meet the Government’s own environmental targets,” explained Lines.
According to the RSPB, farmlands can be both productive and bursting with wildlife. The charity explains that in farms big and small, across the uplands and lowlands, important shifts are happening to allow wildlife back in while running successful and resilient businesses and helping the environment heal.
But for this to happen on scale, more investment is needed, for which they have started the petition. “If this happens, it could see the beginnings of a revival for so much of our farmland wildlife as the results show nature-friendly farming really works. Research says butterflies, bees and bats have all increased in areas where farmers have taken part in government funded agri-environment schemes. Just imagine the difference it could make if the UK and devolved governments provide the investment now to support farmers and crofters to help bring our wildlife back all around the UK”, explains the RSPB.