Defra launches targets consultation and Nature Recovery Green Paper:

The Nature Recovery Green Paper sets out our ambition to enable nature’s recovery in England, laying out proposals to support our aim to halt and reverse the loss of nature over the last 50 years. We want to seize the opportunity to update the existing legal framework that underpins how we protect sites and species, including those in the marine space. The Nature Recovery Green Paper sets out proposals for potential reform of marine protected site designation and management and discusses wider marine environmental assessment and resourcing considerations. It also sets out proposals for amendments to the UK Marine Strategy, and the possibility to test if the concept of nature recovery zones on land can inform our approach in the sea.

The Environment Act 2021 requires the government to set at least one long-term target in each of the following areas: air quality; water; biodiversity; and resource efficiency and waste reduction. It also requires targets to be set for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and species abundance. The consultation proposes targets that we think will deliver environmental outcomes in the areas where there are some of the greatest threats and pressures. This is why we are considering targets beyond the legal minimum required, with additional proposals on: biodiversity; water; marine; and woodland cover. For marine, we are consulting on our ambition for 70% of designated features in Marine Protected Areas to be in favourable condition by 2042, with the remainder in recovering condition, and for additional reporting on changes in individual feature condition.

Both consultations will run until 23:59 on 11 May. The press release for their launch can be found here, the Nature Recovery Green Paper can be found here and the Environmental Targets consultation can be found here.

In response to the launch of these documents, Wildlife and Countryside Link (WCL) campaigners say ‘this 2042 target is clearly not ambitious enough and that Government must put action in place to halt and reverse nature’s decline more quickly. The Government’s 2018 25 year plan promised to leave the environment in a better state for the next generation. But under the proposed targets today, 25 years on from this promise (in 2042) the state of nature will actually be worse.’

WCL also wrote that ‘it is also concerning that, except for some seabirds, no marine wildlife will be included in species to be targeted and measured under the 2030 goal.’