Joint appeal for rethink over scrapping of ALSF
Mineral products industry and conservation groups join forces to call for reprieve for key environmental fund
THE minerals industry and leading conservation organizations have joined together to call on government to reconsider its decision to scrap the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) from April 2011.
Both are urging government to review the withdrawal of the ALSF so that aggregates levy funding continues to be made available, thereby helping to ensure that biodiversity and nature conservation improvements are maximized through minerals industry activity.
Introduced at the same time as the Aggregates Levy in April 2002, the ALSF aims to reduce the environmental impacts of aggregates extraction and deliver benefits to areas subject to these impacts.
It is the means by which around 6% of the Aggregates Levy revenue – which currently amounts to more than £300 million annually – has been recycled into communities, non-government organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders, to fund projects delivering conservation, local community and other sustainability benefits.
‘Our industry has provided a legacy of sites of great conservation value and we have worked closely with conservation partners and local communities to do this, said Nigel Jackson, chief executive of the Mineral Products Association.
‘ALSF funding has strongly supported this work and has helped to highlight the huge contribution mineral sites can make to achieving local and national biodiversity objectives. It is vital that Aggregates Levy revenue continues to be used for this vital purpose.’
Darren Moorcroft, head of countryside conservation with the RSPB, added: ‘We have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds via the ALSF on protecting threatened species and restoring vital wildlife habitats. Using money from this fund we have created heathland, reed bed, and grassland across England loved by birds, plant life, insects and people.
‘Losing this vital source of funding jeopardizes our ability to help the Government reach its commitment to halt the decline in biodiversity by 2020.’
Likewise, Stephanie Hilbourne, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said the ALSF was a vital funding stream in the Trusts’ work to enhance the natural environment and people’s engagement with it.
‘While we understand the Government’s need to reduce the national debt, this is extremely disappointing news for local communities and the natural environment. It will cut off a significant source of funding at a time when the challenges for local organizations are growing and the resources available decreasing,’ she said.
THE minerals industry and leading conservation organizations have joined together to call on government to reconsider its decision to scrap the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) from April 2011.
Both are urging government to review the withdrawal of the ALSF so that aggregates levy funding continues to be made available, thereby helping to ensure that biodiversity and nature conservation improvements are maximized through minerals industry activity.
Introduced at the same time as the Aggregates Levy in April 2002, the ALSF aims to reduce the environmental impacts of aggregates extraction and deliver benefits to areas subject to these impacts.
It is the means by which around 6% of the Aggregates Levy revenue – which currently amounts to more than £300 million annually – has been recycled into communities, non-government organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders, to fund projects delivering conservation, local community and other sustainability benefits.
‘Our industry has provided a legacy of sites of great conservation value and we have worked closely with conservation partners and local communities to do this, said Nigel Jackson, chief executive of the Mineral Products Association.
‘ALSF funding has strongly supported this work and has helped to highlight the huge contribution mineral sites can make to achieving local and national biodiversity objectives. It is vital that Aggregates Levy revenue continues to be used for this vital purpose.’
Darren Moorcroft, head of countryside conservation with the RSPB, added: ‘We have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds via the ALSF on protecting threatened species and restoring vital wildlife habitats. Using money from this fund we have created heathland, reed bed, and grassland across England loved by birds, plant life, insects and people.
‘Losing this vital source of funding jeopardizes our ability to help the Government reach its commitment to halt the decline in biodiversity by 2020.’
Likewise, Stephanie Hilbourne, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said the ALSF was a vital funding stream in the Trusts’ work to enhance the natural environment and people’s engagement with it.
‘While we understand the Government’s need to reduce the national debt, this is extremely disappointing news for local communities and the natural environment. It will cut off a significant source of funding at a time when the challenges for local organizations are growing and the resources available decreasing,’ she said.
