Warning for wildlife after Brexit
Red squirrels could be wiped out in Scotland due to Brexit, unless funding and urgent new laws are introduced to safeguard vital conservation work, a group of 30 leading charities has warned.
The stark warning comes from the group of charities, who claim that red squirrels, as well as other rare animals like sea mammals and some birds of prey, are at risk of extinction unless action is taken to protect Scotland’s environment when the UK leaves Europe.
The Scottish Environment Link (SEL) union of conservation groups are calling for legally binding measures to safeguard the countryside, wildlife and water quality.
One of their main concerns is that there are currently no plans to replace the European Commission’s Life-nature Fund, which has given £25 million to Scotland in the past 25 years to help with 25 conservation projects.
Charles Dundas, chairman of SEL, said: “Scotland has hugely benefited from EU funding and protections with the LIFE Fund alone supporting conservation projects.
“If and when Brexit happens, Scotland – along with the rest of the UK – will lose the unrivalled support of EU bodies and funding.
“With only months to go, this poses a serious threat to our fragile and precious natural environment.”
Red squirrels have already suffered due to a loss of habitat, disease and competition from non-native greys.