This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Monday, 30 October 2023
Putting a Fox in the Chicken Coop?
The UK government's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) select committee's job is, holding the Environment Secretary to account on nature and environmental targets. Its current chair also heads the Conservative Friends of the Countryside. This seems a conflict of interest (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/28/sir-robert-goodwill-tory-environment-select-committee-chair-told-to-quit-over-ties-to-lobby-group). The Conservative Friends of the Countryside is a pro fox hunting and shooting consortium. It advocates, for example, halting beaver release. Conservative Friends of the Countryside also wants to continue the burning of peatland, in spite of these being important carbon sinks. This right-wing consortium also favours the continued use of neonicotinoid pesticides, although their detrimental effects on bees and other pollinators are well-documented. Conservative Friends of the Countryside even wants to reverse the current ban on importing hunting trophies from endangered animals. This body has been notably silent on the catastrophic state of English flood defences, for which the Environment Secretary has direct responsibility (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/30/more-than-4000-english-flood-defences-almost-useless-analysis-finds ). Under its present chairmanship, it appears very unlikely that Efra will even attempt to improve the current dismal performances of the under-funded Environment, Food and Rural Affairs body and the Environment Secretary. A man with two hats?
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