By Andrew Gilruth, GWCT Communications Director
The significant implications of the EU referendum for sovereignty, free trade and the movement of people are all being loudly debated. Farming and environmental issues have been less prominent, but the outcome of this referendum will have real implications for them too.
So how should we vote?
The GWCT does not make voting recommendations (only in exceptional circumstances can a charity campaign for a specific outcome) but we can share some thoughts on a couple of points that have barely featured in the campaign.
If we decide to leave the EU, it is unlikely that any government would seek the wholesale removal of existing UK legislation passed in support the Birds and Habitats Directives. The biggest threat to the farmed environment could come from the wish of all parties to phase out the farm Basic Payment Scheme. The impact on smaller farms and those farming in more marginal areas could be profound.
Of course, the UK could design and fund its own agri-environment schemes. Having UK schemes that are more flexible and free from the red tape that comes from Europe might be attractive. But without political parties committing to maintaining environmental payments, the farmed environment might, as a result, be worse off.
It is, indeed, hard to imagine an independent UK government being as generous to our domestic food producers as the EU, which currently provides them with £3 billion a year, about half the total amount we send to Europe in the first place.
If we decide to stay in the EU it makes sense, in some ways, to legislate for, say, the environment on as wide a basis as possible. There is no point restricting carbon emissions, controlling bird flu or protecting migratory birds in one small country if they are unregulated next door. On the other hand, some situations are unique to individual countries.
Heather moorland is unusually British, with some European environmentalists finding it hard to understand why, every few years, we want to set fire to it. Such differences do add vulnerability when we are trying to defend wildlife management techniques on an EU stage.
It is easy to see why the ministers responsible for the countryside are split. Liz Truss, Secretary of State for Defra, sees the attraction of staying in whilst her junior minister, George Eustice MP, feels that we must leave to deliver the changes we need to make.
Irrespective of your personal interests, there will be pros and cons to either result. Given the impact this referendum is going to have on us all for years to come – the least we should do is take part.
* We would like to thank The Field magazine for permission to summarise some of the points made by Charles Nodder in their June edition.
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