UK may have failed to protect wild birds with environmental laws, watchdog finds

"The government has a legal obligation to maintain populations of wild birds and ensure they have enough suitable habitat."

"Ministers are now passing the planning and infrastructure bill, which would deregulate these specially protected areas... at high risk of development."

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) reports that the UK government is neglecting its legal obligations to protect wild bird populations, which are rapidly declining. With the UK’s exit from the EU, crucial conservation legislation and protections for sensitive areas are at risk. The government’s new planning bill threatens over 5,000 protected sites, potentially exacerbating the decline in bird numbers. Recent data indicates a significant drop in bird species across the UK, particularly farmland birds, raising concerns over the government's commitment to conservation efforts under the Environment Act 2021.

Read at www.theguardian.com