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New UK Government targets could mean less wildlife for future generations

It is time to take action for nature - now!

On Monday 9 May, it will be six months since the landmark Environment Act was passed – the first dedicated environmental legislation for nearly 30 years and the first time England has set legally binding targets for nature’s recovery.

It is only now that the details of these targets are being discussed, and a consultation is due to close on 11 May to assess how ambitious these targets will be. It’s crunch time for nature.

Unfortunately, the long-term target currently being proposed for nature’s recovery aims to have just 10 per cent more nature in 2042 than 2030 levels – by which time the state of our natural world is expected to have declined even further.

A hedgehog nestling down into grass

Hedgehog by Amy Lewis

This could mean that wildlife is less abundant by 2042 than it is now, after another decade of decline, and clearly falls short of the UK Government’s promise to pass on nature in better condition.

UK nature is already in dire straits. This country is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world:

  • 41 per cent of species in decline.
  • 15 per cent of species at risk of extinction.
  • 97 per cent of lowland meadows – home to wildflowers, mammals and birds – have disappeared.
  • 80 per cent of heathlands lost.
  • Rivers, polluted by, amongst other things, raw sewage, are in deep trouble.

The new target that the UK Government has proposed is too weak and unambitious – England would have even less wildlife in 20 years’ time than the much-depleted state that we have now.

A turtle dove standing on grass covered in small white flowers. It has a red eye and gold markings on its grey feathers.

Turtle dove by Dawn Monrose

Alan Wright, Communications Manager for the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, says:

"At a time when we need to trigger a decade of nature restoration by setting high standards for the proposed Environment Act targets, current proposals mean that the UK Government’s clear commitment to leave the environment in a better state for the next generation is in jeopardy. We’re urging everyone to sign our petition calling for stronger targets to put nature on the path to recovery before the situation gets even worse."

You can read The Wildlife Trusts’ briefing on the Nature Recovery Green Paper and Environment Act target consultations.

The Wildlife Trusts have started a campaign to rally public support for stronger targets to help nature recover. Please join our call for ambitious targets that will put nature into recovery.

Demand better for wildlife

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