GOVERNMENT INACTION THREATENS HUNDREDS OF WILDLIFE SITES AND ANIMALS - HUHNE

8.01.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 9th Feb 2007

The Liberal Democrats have today called on the Government to provide adequate protection for hundreds of animals and sensitive areas from the threat of ecological damage.

This coincides with the publication today of an RSPB report which warns that almost 2,400 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and 80 per cent of wildlife subject to government action plans will be left unprotected by new legislation.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said:

"The Government appears to have no interest in protecting biodiversity in the UK. Last year's withdrawal of funding for valuable research carried out by the Centre of Ecology and Hydrology was clearly just the thin end of the wedge.

"Since 2000, the number of SSSI sites in a favourable condition has fallen significantly.

"The Government is way behind its target of getting 95% of sites into favourable condition by the end of the decade. They are going backwards not forwards.

"Things are set to get even worse. The way they intend to implement the Environmental Liabilities directive will mean that our wildlife and the sites on which it depends will miss out on proper protection. They don't appear to understand that polluters must pay for the damage they cause."