HS2 – new report reveals exorbitant cost to nature

HS2 – new report reveals exorbitant cost to nature - The Wildlife Trusts

A new report published by The Wildlife Trusts today reveals, for the first time, the vast scale of the destruction and impact that HS2 will cause to nature. 'What’s the damage? Why HS2 will cost nature too much’ is the most comprehensive assessment Drawing on data from 14 Wildlife Trusts affected by the current plans, other charities and landowners* along the route, the report shows that HS2 will divide and destroy huge swathes of irreplaceable natural habitat and important protected wildlife sites up the length of England.

This will cause permanent loss of nature, increased fragmentation of wild places, and the local extinction of endangered species.

The report finds that HS2’s current proposals will risk the loss of, or significantly impact:

5 Wildlife refuges of international importance, protected by UK law
33 Sites of Special Scientific Interest which are protected by UK law
693 Classified Local Wildlife Sites
21 Designated Local Nature Reserves
26 Large landscape-scale initiatives, including:
- 4 Nature Improvement Areas awarded £1.7 million of public money
- 22 Living Landscapes – partnership schemes to restore nature
18 Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves – many are also designated wildlife sites
108 Ancient woodlands, an irreplaceable habitat
Other irreplaceable habitats such as veteran trees, wood pasture, old meadows
Extensive further areas of wider natural habitat
Barn owls and endangered wildlife such white-clawed crayfish, willow tit and lizard orchid. Rarities like dingy skipper may become locally extinct.

Nikki Williams, The Wildlife Trusts’ director of campaigns and policy says: “The figures are grim and the reality is worse. The potential loss of so many really important wild places and the wildlife that depends on them has never been revealed before – nor has the damage that will be done to taxpayer-funded, nature recovery projects. HS2 will destroy precious carbon-capturing habitats if it’s allowed to continue in its current form – it will damage the very ecosystems that provide a natural solution to the climate emergency."