Sarwar: ‘We can’t lose more animal species’
Scotland cannot afford to continue to lose precious animal species, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has warned, as figures suggest one in nine species now faces the threat of extinction.
Mr Sarwar said that Scottish Labour would deliver a national recovery plan that protects Scotland’s wildlife as he criticised the SNP’S cuts to environment bodies.
Almost half of species have become less abundant over the past ten years, figures show.
The Labour leader said that since 2010, the SNP had slashed funding for major environment bodies, including the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services.
Scottish Natural Heritage, now Naturescot, has had its budget cut by £33 million in real terms since 2010.
While the SNP has mention of wildlife in its manifesto – including a commitment to protect at least 30
per cent of Scotland’s land by 2030 – Scottish Labour’s Climate Recovery Plan includes a commitment to carry out a full review of Scotland’s outdated legislation, with a view to strengthening wildlife protection law and animal welfare.
Fabrice Leveque, head of policy at charity WWF Scotland, said it was “disappointed to see a lack of commitments on agricultural reform and nature recovery” in the SNP’S manifesto.
Scottish Labour has committed to a comprehensive ban on fox hunting, snares and the use of electric shock collars.