Farmers go wild as Attenborough warns of risks to nature
SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH has been plunged into a row between environmentalists and the agricultural community after being accused of unfairly blaming farmers for threatening the survival of British wildlife.
The respected naturalist put his name to the State of Nature 2016 report which highlighted the serious decline in animal species across the UK. As well as launching it at the Royal Society, Sir David wrote the foreword.
But the report – and his part in it – has angered many over its assertion that farming practices are to blame for much of the worst impact on Britain’s wildlife.
Groups for farmers, shooting bodies and rural professions have accused others such as the RSPB and the British Trust for Ornithology of looking for scapegoats.
Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: “There are problems with the decline of some species but there are also many recent success stories with the raptor population, otters and salmon.”
In his foreword, Sir David wrote: “Escalating pressures, such as climate change and modern land management, mean that we continue to lose the precious wildlife that enriches our lives and is essential to the health and wellbeing of those who live in the UK.”
Mark Pope, a farmer and chairman of the NFU environment forum, said: “If Sir David came and looked on the ground at what we’re doing and spoke to farmers he might take a different view.”
Sir David said the report “just states the facts”. He added that Brexit would be “an opportunity” to revise agricultural policy.