BREAKING: DEFRA reveals legal biodiversity and water targets in Green Paper

New long-term goals for halting land and marine wildlife decline, and reducing water pollution, have been unveiled by the UK Government. 

The Nature Recovery Green Paper has been released by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Natural England, outlining plans to help restore nature in the United Kingdom over the next two decades. 

Central to the plans, unveiled on 16th March 2022, is halving species decline by 2030, and further work to increase abundance by 10%, including the creation or restoration of 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitats, by 2042, compared with today. Nutrient pollution will also be reduced by cutting phosphorous loading from treated wastewater by 80%, with nitrogen and phosphorous sediment entering water from farming cut by 40% by 2037. 

England’s tree canopy and woodland cover is set to increase by 14.5% to 17.5% of total land area by 2050. Meanwhile, 70% of Britain’s marine environment should be considered in ‘favourable condition’ by 2042, with the remainder classed as ‘recovering’. Additional reporting on changes to the condition of individual features factors in the proposals, as does confirmation a £30m Big Nature Recovery Fund will be made available later this year. 

Also included are specific targets on air pollution, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in England set to be cut from 20 to 10µg/m3 in England by 2040. Notably, this is still double the World Health Organisation guidance that this form of pollution should not exceed 5 µg/m3. 

Overall proposals aim to meet the UK’s commitment to protect 30% of land and sea habitats for nature this decade, although the Green Paper itself notes just 38% of the areas covered under current protected land schemes are deemed to be in ‘favourable condition’. A six-week consultation is now underway. If approved, plans will be enshrined in law under the Environment Bill 2021, which received Royal Assent in November last year. 

‘Ambitious targets to halt the decline in species abundance and to increase the area of land and sea protected for Nature, backed by a range of new policies to meet them, means that we are in a strong position to shift up a gear – not only protecting what’s left but also to recover some of what has been lost,’ said Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England. 

‘Not only do we need to see increased ambition from the UK Government when it comes to setting key targets, but – to make real progress – targets must be matched by bold action. All of government must prepare to go further, faster to protect and restore England’s previous habitats, and to slash the UK’s global environmental footprint,’ said Kate Norgrove, Executive Director of Advocacy and Campaigns at WWF, in response to the announcement. The organisation is campaigning for a 75% reduction in the UK’s global environmental footprint by 2030.

Environment Journal recently asked ecological consultant Ben Kite what authorities and developers should know about the new UK Biodiversity Net Gain requirements for new developments. 

Image credit:  Nicholas Beel