Cuts to Defra announced by Chancellor George Osborne in his spending review on Wednesday have prompted a backlash from environment groups. Conservationists have called for a "radical rethink" of government spending on wildlife and environmental protection.

Although Defra was just one of a number of government departments to face further cuts in the Chancellor's latest attack on the state, the hefty 10 percent cut has caused major concerns amongst green groups, who fear it will affect the department's ability to carry out some of its essential functions.  

Added to the cuts that have already been announced (including a 30 percent cut two years ago), this latest blow will slash Defra's real terms budget to almost half its 2010 level. RSPB spoke out on Wednesday, warning that the new budgetary constraints mean pressure is "likely to fall disproportionately on conservation as spending on flooding issues and the badger cull is likely to be protected."

RSPB pointed to the findings of last month's State of Nature report, compiled by 25 UK wildlife groups and spearheaded by the charity itself. The report shed light on the grim reality of the UK's natural environment, where 60 per cent of UK species are in decline.

Martin Harper, RSPB conservation director, said on Wednesday, "These latest cuts signal the urgent need for a sea change in the way we protect our wildlife. The State of Nature report published in May laid the facts bare about the worrying declines in our native species. Without investment in the future of our natural environment the situation will only get worse."

He said there is need for "a radical rethink of how we, as a nation which has pioneered conservation work over several decades, can protect our plants, animals, rivers, seas and landscapes." The RSPB director suggested that, if the government is unwilling or unable to pay for environmental protection, there must be another way of ensuring that sound environmental policy is at the heart of all public thinking.

Me Harper added, "The environment must be central to thinking across government departments. Charities, businesses and landowners can do more but the Government must lead by example." He concluded, "The environment is not a luxury in times of plenty, it is essential for our future and we have an obligation to care for it for future generations."

The RSPB urged government to invest in areas such as habitats which are good for health and wellbeing and have high "natural capital," instead of funding infrastructure works such as road building and the much maligned HS2 development. The Wildlife Trusts warned this week that these projects "have little or no economic justification and will cause irreversible damage to wildlife and valuable landscapes."

Renewable energy groups also criticised the Chancellor for failing to support renewables and reneging on commitments made to clean energy providers. Charlotte Morton, chief executive of ADBA, said on Wednesday, "The Chancellor said that he would 'provide the certainty [energy] investors are crying out for', but the postponement of a 2030 decarbonisation target in the Energy Bill and uncertainty on Feed in Tariff budgets are symptomatic of failure on this to date."

The Department for Energy and Climate Change suffered cuts of 8 percent in the spending review.