The UK has left the EU – now what for conservation?

One month after the end of the Brexit transition period, we are starting to understand the implications of leaving the EU on all aspects of our life. Since EU legislation underpinned much nature conservation law in the UK, this is one area that could change dramatically. To assess possible changes we need to grasp the implications not only for explicitly ‘environmental’ rules, but also for broader policies – such as those on farming and fishing – as well as for the ‘enforcement’ of rules and policies. 

Let’s start by looking at a couple of key ‘directives’. The Birds Directives provides a legal framework for the protection of wild birds across the EU and has increased bird populations, whilst the Habitats Directive provides equivalent protection for other species of animals and plants. Although the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 transposes this into domestic law, it ... Read more...

A Rocha UK is 20. Where do we go next?

These are bleak times. We live not just with a global pandemic, but accelerating climate change and species loss. Is there hope? And can A Rocha UK realistically make a difference?

The answer is a resounding ‘yes’ to both – if we have confidence in what we know, humility about what we don’t, openness to work with others, and the faith to go where we believe God is pointing us. 

A Rocha UK was founded twenty years ago as a local Christian conservation project in a deprived and multi-ethnic area of Southall, west London. That work goes on, based at our Wolf Fields reserve. But who would have dreamed that A Rocha UK would now be leading a fast growing network of Christian organisations committed to managing their land for nature, with Partners in Action in all four UK nations? Or that we would be ... Read more...