Lords to ask wildlife protection charities if the Government's biodiversity policy is adequate
The Select Committee on the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 will continue taking evidence for its inquiry on Tuesday 31 October. The Committee will question RSPB England and the national umbrella body for local Wildlife Trusts as well as biodiversity experts.
The Committee will consider how well the Act and Natural England have fulfilled their respective roles in facilitating conservation and monitoring biodiversity.
At 11:05am the Committee will hear evidence from:
- Chris Corrigan, Director, RSPB England
- Stephen Trotter, Director, England, The Wildlife Trusts
At 12:05pm the Committee will hear evidence from:
- Dr Jo Judge, Chief Executive, National Biodiversity Network
- Dr Stephanie Wray, President, Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)
Topics likely to be covered include:
- How might the Act be strengthened to ensure biodiversity protections are enhanced?
- How might it be possible to raise awareness of the biodiversity duty, and emphasise its importance across the public sector more broadly?
- Has the difference in wording between the biodiversity duties in England, Scotland and Wales had an impact on the amount of biodiversity data that is collected in each nation, and how it is then used?
- Will new legal powers, or new structures, be needed to compensate for the loss of EU oversight for environmental protection as a result of Brexit?
The evidence sessions will begin at 11:05am, Tuesday 31 October in Committee Room 1 of the House of Lords.
