Guidance for conversations with candidates this General Election
On 4 July, thousands of candidates will stand in the General Election hoping to represent you. Your elected MP plays a crucial role in decisions about landscape management and regulations to control harmful practices that cause problems for wildlife. The decisions they make will shape the landscape of our natural environment and impact the wellbeing of current and future generations, where you live and across the UK.
Successful candidates in the General Election will make important decisions about nature over the next 5 years, at a time when urgent action is needed to prevent catastrophic decline in biodiversity. As many laws affecting nature have been devolved, this election will have the biggest impact on conservation and restoration in England, however the UK government will have impact on some areas that affect all four countries - especially the funding available to power nature's recovery.
Mammals play key roles in balanced, healthy ecosystems but we face losing 1 in 4 of our native terrestrial mammals in the UK. Putting mammal conservation high on the political agenda is crucial. Urge candidates to recognise the value of mammals and the habitats on which they depend in your local area and nationally.
Together we can speak up for our fellow mammals this election.
Some questions you can ask
Whether you attend a husting to hear what all parliamentary candidates for your area have to say, or find yourself in conversation with a canvassing party representative on your doorstep, here are some questions you can ask:
"Will your party will have a comprehensive plan to halt the decline of nature by 2030?"
To bring nature back from the brink, we need a comprehensive, ambitious plan from our political leaders to meet our legally binding nature targets, and put wildlife’s recovery at the heart of policy making. A focus on targets for amount of landscape protected or restored 'for nature', or number of trees planted, must not lose sight of the need for thriving populations of animals at all levels of ecosystems, and the need to tackle threats to threatened and declining species.
"Will you support an increase in the funding available for nature-friendly farming?"
Around 70% of the UK's land is farmed, meaning that land being cared for in a nature-friendly way is essential. This shift could reduce the reliance on intensive farming techniques and harmful chemicals, ultimately fostering the return of biodiversity and improving air and water quality. Farms that are managed with wildlife in mind provide connectivity, habitat, and food for small mammals and bats in the form of unmown field edges, hedgerows and veteran trees, so that in turn they can play a role in cycling nutrients, controlling agricultural pests, aerating soil and providing food for birds of prey and large mammals. Avoiding harmful chemicals can allow waterways to become thriving habitat for otters, water voles and water shrews.
"What measures will you take to expand and enhance protected areas to meet the UK Government’s commitment to safeguarding 30% of land and sea for nature?"
Currently, only 7% of England's land is designated for nature conservation, and much of it is in poor condition or fragmented. With the current levels of progress, the prospect of achieving the Government’s target to increase this to 30% by 2030 seems increasingly distant. One of the key causes of decline in native mammal populations is loss and fragmentation of habitat, especially larger mammals with large hunting and foraging ranges. Ensuring the quality and connectivity of these protected spaces is essential for the future of nature.