LIARS!

@RishiSunak @michaelgove @theresecoffey you said you wouldn’t weaken environmental protections.

And yet that’s just what you are doing.

You lie, and you lie, and you lie again.

And we’ve had enough. 🧵 Yesterday your Government announced the first reversal in environmental legislation for decades.

https://twitter.com/RSBenwell/status/1696585378684154251

Twenty one Hen Harriers have disappeared across Northern England in 12 months.

With one bird "A post-mortem examination concluded that the death of the bird was consistent with illegal persecution, by having its head pulled off whilst still alive..”

THIS HAS TO STOP 🧵 The full story ...

One of the UK’s rarest birds of prey, a Hen Harrier, has been found dead and its head removed.

Pic of bird as found (photo credit @NaturalEngland)

🌍Explainer! On #EnvironmentAct targets

Yesterday we made a formal complaint that @DefraGovUK missed its own legal deadline for publishing #EnvironmentAct targets in England.

These are important targets that will help set ambition for and drive nature’s recovery.

BUT ... 🧵 ... we also had quite a few issues with the draft targets @DefraGovUK proposed in the consultation (read via link 👇).

Here’s a couple we are really concerned about … and there’s a reason we’re sharing this with you …

consult.defra.gov.uk/natural-enviro…

A step in the right direction. @michaelgove said yesterday on Sky News, re Investment Zones (IZs), that "anything that in any way might undermine environmental protections is out".

So, what are some of things that will have to be “out”?

Read on …

https://twitter.com/i/status/1586641379840630784

First, any development on legally designated protected sites for nature must be “out”.

🌍⚠ URGENT: #AttackOnNature. Despite all the recent U-turns the new UK Government is STILL not listening.

But we will not stand by and let wildlife be trashed.

You’ve been brilliant in your support already🙏but we now need to step up a gear. This is how … 🧵 It looks like the one thing the UK Government has not U-turned on is the #AttackOnNature. We urgently need them to do this. Nature needs them to do this! 2/

🚨⚠ "Confidence and stability". As we hear the Chancellor’s words today, we ask the UK Government to now give us confidence that they recognise that economic growth depends on a healthy natural environment, and that we can move on from this #AttackOnNature …

Thread … We need to hear that the reckless gamble that is the Retained EU Law Bill will not be allowed to waste 2 years of gov time, tying up civil servants/parliament & threatening vital laws that have been proven repeatedly to deliver for nature and people. UK just can't afford this. 2/

Explainer! You’ve asked for more info on #InvestmentZones and the #AttackOnNature. We are worried these zones won’t work for nature, but will they even deliver for growth?

We asked one of our RSPB planning experts, Simon Marsh @RSPBplanner, to take a closer look. Thread … The UK Government’s proposed #InvestmentZones (IZs) bear a striking resemblance to Enterprise Zones (EZs) and Simplified Planning Zones (SPZs). 2/

❤️🙏🌍Today the RSPB stands in solidarity with @nationaltrust

They have been very clear about the #AttackOnNature, please read the excellent statement below.

But the UK Government is still not listening. So, what now? Read on … thread ...

nationaltrust.org.uk/press-release/… We agree with @nationaltrust director-general Hilary McGrady when she says:

“We are facing one of the biggest threats to nature in my lifetime. It potentially means we will be turning some of our most precious green spaces grey.” 2/

thetimes.co.uk/article/nation…

We’ve been overwhelmed by the support for our e-action, 77,284 at last count! Lots of you are getting replies from your MPs. It is great to read the positive ones, but we know many of you are disappointed that some have been less positive (1/5) Thanks to your support, the media coverage on the recent UK #Government announcements has been very fast-paced. Some MPs have questioned why we are claiming this is an #AttackOnNature, so it’s important that we are clear on why we, the RSPB, are raising concerns about this. (2/5)

🚨Today UK Gov re-committed to its legal obligations in the Environment Act to start nature’s recovery by 2030. But it is still proposing big changes to how it will protect & restore wildlife in England. We want to be reassured. We haven’t yet seen enough to reassure us. Thread👇 Bottom line: a target to restore nature isn’t enough if you’re dismantling the very protections that will help you achieve it. 2/18

⚠️⚠️Over the past few days, the Government has launched an #AttackOnNature. We’ve been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from YOU 🙏❤️

Now, what next – here's the plan. Thread 1/14 There’s more to follow. Much more. But the very first thing is to leave all our MPs in absolutely NO doubt as they sit in their party conferences that you care about wildlife, and this is a huge issue. 2/14

It’s been a tough few days. The Government has launched an #AttackOnNature.

But YOU have stood up for wildlife. In your hundreds of thousands. Because YOU care. And you are being heard. Thank you, all of you. 🙏❤🌍

But there’s more to do … (short!) thread 1/4 We’ve been reading all your amazing suggestions. Tomorrow we’ll be looking closely at these, talking with our partner wildlife organisations, and considering where we all take this next. 2/4

🚨 Yet another Gov #AttackOnNature? The third in as many days? @DefraGovUK please say it’s not true that the Government is going to break another promise and scrap the new scheme that supports nature friendly farming? 1/14 What’s happening? We are hearing that the Government is about to scrap the Environment Land Management Scheme (aka ELMS). 2/14

theguardian.com/environment/20…

I’m running an educational event called Save Sheffield Wildlife, to teach the community about the decline in our precious wildlife. #GBGW I’m sharing infographics on wildflowers to show the community how they can rewild their gardens to attract local wildlife. #GBGW

⚠️😡Make no mistake, we are angry. This Government has today launched an attack on nature. We don’t use the words that follow lightly. We are entering uncharted territory. Please read this thread. 1/13 As of today, from Cornwall to Cumbria, Norfolk to Nottingham wildlife is facing one of the greatest threats it’s faced in decades. 2/13

🚨⚠️ The RSPB is deeply concerned that the Government is about to start a full-on attack on the laws that protect nature. Please read this thread … 1/8 This evening a new bill will be introduced to parliament that will allow the Government to rip up hundreds of laws that have their origin in the EU. This includes environmental protections, particularly the Habitats Regulations 2/8 questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statem…

The RSPB is concerned that Natural England should grant a licence to three falconers to take wild peregrine eggs from the nest on the basis of “reinstating” their “cultural right of access” to the birds in order to establish a new “studbook” of British peregrines. 2/11 The RSPB’s history is closely entwined with the recovery of wild peregrine populations in the UK over the past 50 years.