Wildlife groups’ call to change Welsh Ag Bill sparks spat

A call from wildlife groups for the Welsh Agriculture Bill to be changed to “restore nature” has sparked an argument.

More than 40 organisations, including the Nature Friendly Farming Network, have written to the Welsh government to warn the current wording – to “maintain and enhance” nature – is too weak.

See also: Welsh Agriculture Bill to be revamped to support farm viability

They claimed Wales had become “one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world” and said it was now on its “last chance to save nature”.

But Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) president Glyn Roberts hit back at the suggestion that the legislation did not go far enough to protect nature.

He told Farmers Weekly that in its current form, its objectives were so focused on the environment that it could be called an Environment Bill.

“Our major concern is that the economic importance of agriculture and food production and all the businesses and employment it supports is ignored by the Bill,” he said.

“The overarching legislation previously in place for more than seven decades had clear objectives relating to the economic viability of agriculture and rural employment, and that is still the case in the EU.”

Economic sustainability

“We have made it clear that we don’t object to the environmental contents of the Bill in its current form, but there is a gaping hole in terms of the economic sustainability of the agricultural businesses that employ thousands of people and feed our nations. That hole must be filled.”

The legislation, which will set the framework for the Welsh government’s post-Brexit Sustainable Farming Scheme, is due to be passed on 16 May.