Agricultural policy decision disputed
Concerns have been raised for wildlife following an agreement on the future of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Farmers and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) have called for the UK governments to save threatened farmland wildlife after cuts to the CAP's budget were announced.
Cuts to the annual €50 billion budget will no longer support the farmland environment for Europe's wildlife, such as the UK's skylark, brown hare and the brown hairstreak butterfly.
According to the RSPB, the decision "undermines" the efforts of those farmers who have taken steps to cater to nature on their farm.
As such, the State of Nature Report – published by 25 conservation and research organisations in June – showed that 60 per cent of UK species that rely on farmland are declining.
The RSPB's conservation director, Martin Harper, said: "The deal struck last week is likely to be disastrous for wildlife and the environment across Europe, and it is a poor use of precious public funding.
"The final deal has favoured vested interests and let down many of Europe's most progressive farmers who have been working hard to make space for nature and the environment while producing food."
Mr Harper added that the society is now appealing to the environment secretary, Owen Paterson, and his counterparts in the devolved countries, to ensure a better deal by rewarding those farmers who deliver for wildlife and the environment.
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