Countryside Alliance calls for clarity on Government's 25 Year Environment Plan

The Countryside Alliance has called for more information on the proposals contained in the Government 25 Year Environment Plan as part of a parliamentary inquiry into the overall ambition and approach of the Plan.

In written evidence to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, the Countryside Alliance has stressed the need for clarity on the Government's approach to the environment and called for rural communities to be fully engaged in any new policies.

The Countryside Alliance welcomed the publication of the Government's 25 Year Environment Plan earlier this year. The Plan is an impressive attempt by the Government to recognise and address the environmental challenges of our age and we fully support its objectives. However, in attempting to be as comprehensive as possible the Plan lacks detail about how these objectives are going to be delivered and by whom.

The Government must acknowledge the vital role of people who farm, fish, and shoot in environmental work, and engage them in delivering the objectives of the Plan. There must be better consultation on the implementation of the Plan than there was during its formation when there was no public consultation.

Sarah Lee, Head of Policy at the Countryside Alliance commented: "The Government must work with all of those involved in the management of the countryside otherwise the aspirations for improvement of our natural environment will fail to become a reality. It is vital that delivery involves working with rural communities not imposing solutions on them. We will continue to work hard to ensure that the voice of rural communities is listened to in government."