UK Nature and Environment

Over 50 environment and farming groups are urging the Government not to cut the already inadequate nature-friendly farming budget for the Department for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) any further. In fact, they say, it should be increased to meet nature and climate targets and ensure sustainable, wildlife-friendly food production.

Defra’s budget has been rumoured to be on the chopping block in the Comprehensive Spending Review. Multiple environmental regulators were called into Downing Street by the Chancellor just last week, with Natural England, who have a major role in agri-environment schemes, expected to lose 200 jobs. Nature groups and farmers are concerned that cuts to the nature-friendly farming budget – which makes up the lion’s share of Defra’s spending - will potentially be trailed in the Spring Statement this week.

Not only would environmentalists and farmers object to such cuts due to the damage they would cause, they would also be likely to be unpopular with the public too. ​​New YouGov polling for Wildlife and Countryside Link has shown that only 13% of the public think the Government made the right decision in suspending the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) recently.