Vote for nature: Mammal Society General Election priorities

To restore nature by 2030, we need more Government action. All political parties must prioritise nature in their manifestos ahead of the upcoming General Election. 

Under the Environment Act 2021, Government has a legal duty to halt the decline of wildlife by 2030. © Joanne Tully 

The upcoming election on July 4th is crucial for nature. With the commitment to safeguarding 30% of our land and seas for wildlife by 2030, the next Government must make this legal declaration a reality. The government’s statutory advisor, the Office for Environmental Protection warns current plans won’t be enough to reach the 2030 target to halt nature’s decline. Under the Environment Act 2021, Government has a legal duty to halt the decline of wildlife by 2030. Government must commit to large scale nature protection and restoration to achieve this target. As it stands, we’re six years away from needing to make this a reality. As one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, the next Government must scale up and speed up nature recovery action. This election offers an opportunity for change. It's now or never.

At the Mammal Society, we have been advocating for nature for the past 70 years. The drivers of nature’s decline need to be tackled urgently through action in all areas – including protection for and restoration of mammal populations. The State of Nature 2023 Report shows that UK biodiversity is in severe decline, and reveals that 26% of native mammal species are at risk of extinction in the UK. Action to protect and restore mammal populations will support their thriving future as part of healthy and diverse ecosystems benefiting people and nature across the British Isles. 

Action to protect and restore mammals will benefit nature (including us) across the British Isles. © Jane Doe

Wildlife and Countryside Link, the largest nature coalition in England, made up of 82 organisations including The Wildlife Trusts and WWF UK, campaigning together for the protection of nature. 

Together for nature 

Nature groups recognise that the Government has taken significant positive steps in environmental policy, including the world’s first legally binding target to halt the decline of biodiversity. However, we do not think that politicians have yet taken sufficient action to meet that target, or laid out clear and credible plans for how they would do so. We have set out five areas of focus which, together, could turn things around.  This is to show all political parties that no matter what other manifesto commitments they might make, ambition in the right areas for environmental action will be a key issue against which they will be judged in the next election. Together, we are calling on political parties to consider these five actions to be included in all party manifestoes: 

1. A pay-rise for nature, including greater support for farmers to help nature and manage over 70% of UK land – we want to see double the current budget for nature-friendly farming in future.   

2. Make polluters pay with new rules and requirements to drive private investment in nature and climate recovery, and an end to new fossil fuels. 

3. More space for nature to fulfil the promise to protect 30% of land and sea for nature, including expanding and improving protected areas, and ensuring public land and National Parks contribute more to recovery. 

4. A right to a healthy environment, establishing a human right to clean air, water and access to nature. 

5. Fair and effective climate action including investment in warm homes and lower bills, supporting active travel and public transport, and replacing polluting fossil fuels with affordable renewables to ensure we at least halve UK emissions by 2030.

Mammals are key to meeting these targets

Mammals include some of our most iconic and beloved species, and yet are among the most depleted. The decline or loss of any species can have serious and far-reaching impact, and mammals big and small are no exception. Whether controlling insect populations, playing a key role in seed dispersal and pollination, providing food for larger predators, or even acting as ecosystem engineers to bring benefits for people and nature alike, mammals are vital components of healthy and functioning ecosystems. We want to see the following considerations given to mammals in the way the five policies are delivered: 

• Long-term funding for wildlife-friendly infrastructure and farming so land managers can protect and restore mammal populations. 

• Support for species recovery programmes including species reintroductions where these strengthen landscapes and biodiversity. 

• Empower communities to protect and restore mammal populations, enabling them to be a part of decision-making processes around landscape management.

• Maintain protections in the planning process, ensuring that streamlining for economic growth does not weaken protections for native mammals against development impacts.

Water voles, as ecosystem engineers, modify resource availability for natural communities by creating burrow networks. © Matt Binstead, the British Wildlife Centre 

What can you do? 

Attend the Restore Nature Now march

Help us make sure that mammals are amongst the calls to Restore Nature Now on Saturday 22 June. We’re marching in London, alongside tens of thousands of nature lovers to take action for nature, with a simple demand to all political parties: Restore Nature Now. We’ll be gathering at the Joy of Life Fountain in Hyde Park, Park Lane, London W1K, between 12:30am and 1pm. From there, we’ll march through London before ending up in Parliament Square at around 2.30pm.

Register to vote 

Make sure you’re registered to vote in the next General Election. A General Election has been called for 4 July 2024. Register to vote by 11:59pm on 18 June 2024. 

Question your prospective parliamentary candidates

Get guidance to question your prospective parliamentary candidates about their plans for nature recovery this General Election. 

What next? Here’s what you can do after the election 

Get involved with your local nature and climate groups. 

Thank you for joining us in the fight to restore nature now 

Over 100,000 people signed our Wildlife and Countryside Link letter, urging parties to include five key policies in their 2024 general election manifestos. 

Thank you for showing policymakers that nature matters to you, the voters. We need real action for climate, nature, and people, and your support highlights this urgency. 

We’ll keep you updated on the progress of these policies in the 2024 election. 

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