The Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) has published a 100-page paper in collaboration with the Wildlife Trusts, RSPB and WWF outlining the consequences for wildlife of the UK leaving the European Union.

The paper, The potential policy and environmental consequences for the UK of a departure from the European Union, assess a number of potential outcomes and concludes that membership of the EU has a “significant positive impact on environmental outcomes in the UK”.  It further states that leaving would “leave the British environment in a more vulnerable and uncertain position than if the country were to remain as a member of the EU”.  

The Wildlife Trusts was one of three organisations that were criticised by the Telegraph on Monday over its referendum campaigning activity.

Earlier this week the Charity Commission issued guidance on campaigning during the referendum, which has been criticised by sector umbrella bodies for being overly prescriptive.

Andrew Purkis, a former Charity Commission board member, has advised charities to ignore Monday’s guidance and follow CC9 – the regulator’s general campaigning guidance. He said that the IEEP report is “by any standards a very high quality, expert contribution to the debate, of exactly the kind the Prime Minister has called for”.

Purkis added: “It makes a mockery of the negative tone of the poorly-drafted recent Charity Commission guidance which in key respects is in conflict with its own official CC9.”

WWF-UK’s director of advocacy Trevor Hutchings said: “As we debate the UK’s future relationship with the EU, it is important that both camps – in and out – consider the impact on the environment. In particular, we want to hear how they would set about reversing the decline in species and habitats upon which our economic and social wellbeing depend.

“Not everything that comes from Europe has been good for the natural world, but on balance membership of the EU has delivered benefits for our environment that would be hard to replicate in the event of the UK leaving. Whatever the UK’s future relationship with the EU, it must not be at the expense of our natural resources, wildlife and wild places.”  

The Wildlife Trusts’ chief executive Stephanie Hilborne said: “The EU has the strongest body of environmental legislation anywhere in the world. It has inspired the UK’s own wildlife legislation and held us to account where we’ve faltered.

“There are many reasons why people will vote ‘in’ or ‘out’ in the Referendum but if the UK goes it alone, the Wildlife Trusts fear we may lose a vital insurance policy for our environment.”

RSPB’s director of conservation Martin Harper said: “It is now time for both sides of the referendum debate to present their respective visions for the future and to explain how their stance will help protect and enhance the environment. The millions of people that care about nature in this country deserve greater clarity about the environmental implications of the UK remaining in or leaving the EU, which is why we want to ensure that nature features in the public debate.”