Some wetlands receive fracking protection
Some of the UK’s most important natural places will be protected from hydraulic fracturing by the Government – a move which has been welcomed by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust.
Last year, WWT co-researched a report called Are we fit to frack? with other conservation organisations: It concluded that some areas of the country should be exempted from fracking due to the risk to the natural environment, including National Parks, designated Areas of Natural Beauty, and Sites of Special Scientific Interest – many of which are wetlands (eight of WWT's nine Wetland Centres have SSSI status).
The Government has now announced it agrees with those findings. They’ve been included as an amendment to the Infrastructure Bill which is currently passing through Parliament.
As per our position set out in 2013, WWT remains concerned about the effects fracking could have on all wetlands that benefit people and wildlife. We’re also concerned at the lack of a robust regulatory framework that would help to safeguard the natural environment. We’ll continue to work to find solutions.
A joint statement from WWT, Angling Trust, CPRE, National Trust, RSPB, Salmon & Trout Association and the Wildlife Trusts says:
"We are pleased that Government has listened to our recommendations and agreed in principle to rule out some of our most treasured natural and historic landscapes by promising to ban fracking in National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
"The Infrastructure Bill has given us an important opportunity to safeguard our nation's wildlife and habitats from the environmental risks associated with fracking, but there is still work to be done to ensure a robust regulatory system is established to offer protection for places still vulnerable to this largely untested technology."
WWT's Wetland Centres at Arundel, Caerlaverock, Martin Mere, Llanelli, London, Slimbridge and Welney all have SSSI status among other protections. Castle Espie's foreshore along Strangford Lough also has SSSI status. Our other two sites - Washington and Steart Marshes - both have other environmental designations for the work WWT undertakes every day to create and maintain homes for the UK's wildlife.
