The Prime Minister is committing today [Monday] to protect 30
percent of the UK’s land by 2030.
Existing National Parks, Areas of
Outstanding Natural Beauty and other protected areas already
comprise approximately 26 percent of land in England. An
additional 4 percent - over 400,000 hectares, the size of the
Lake District and South Downs national parks combined - will be
protected to support the recovery of nature.
The Government will work with the Devolved Administrations to
agree an approach across the UK, and with landowners and civil
society to explore how best to increase the size and value of our
protected land.
The announcement comes as the Prime Minister is set to sign the
Leaders Pledge for Nature at a virtual United Nations event later
today, committing to put nature and biodiversity on a road to
recovery by 2030.
will warn that countries must act now to reverse
devastating biodiversity loss and prevent more species from being
lost forever, with a 68 percent decline in global wildlife
populations since 1970 alone.
Addressing the virtual signing ceremony today, the Prime Minister
will say:
“We must turn these words into action and use them to build
momentum, to agree ambitious goals and binding
targets.
“We must act now – right now. We cannot afford dither and delay
because biodiversity loss is happening today and it is happening
at a frightening rate. Left unchecked, the consequences will be
catastrophic for us all.
“Extinction is forever – so our action must be
immediate.”
The Leaders Pledge for Nature commits world leaders to take ten
urgent actions, including on sustainable food production, ending
the illegal wildlife trade and implementing nature-based
solutions for climate change.
The UK has played a key role in negotiating the Pledge, alongside
partners such as Costa Rica and the EU, and is now driving the
campaign to bring other countries on board.
The Government has already led, since 2019, the Global Ocean
Alliance promoting a target to protect 30 percent of the ocean by
2030. The Alliance now has 30 countries signed up, with Guatemala
joining this week.
It will now support the same commitment to protect land – the 30
by 30 campaign – and champion it with other countries as part of
the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People.
The Government has committed significant new investment to
support environmental enhancement and protection in England
through the Nature for Climate Fund and the new Environmental
Land Management (ELM) scheme.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- The 30% target is for the whole UK. As Defra only has
competence for England, they will work with the DAs to ensure
they are able to deliver their protections in their nations.
- The government is also committed to restore and enhance
existing protected sites to improve the habitat for nature and
wildlife.
- The Prime Minister will announce he is signing the Leaders
Pledge for Nature via pre-recorded video on Monday. His remarks
will be available after the event.
- TheLeader’s Pledge for Naturecommits
signatories to ten actions:
-
Action 1Prioritise a green recovery from
coronavirus
-
Action 2:Deliver ambitious biodiversity
targets and synergies between UN biodiversity and climate
conventions
-
Action 3:Implement strong accountability
mechanisms
-
Action 4: Commit to sustainable production,
consumption & food systems
-
Action 5: Pledge ambitious Nationally
Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement
-
Action 6:End environmental crimes including
the Illegal Wildlife Trade
-
Action 7: Mainstream biodiversity into key
sectors and into international processes/agreements
-
Action 8:Adopt a One Health approach to
address health and environmental sustainability in an
integrated manner
-
Action 9: Increase financing for nature
-
Action 10: Ensure policy implementation is
science-based while incorporating indigenous knowledge and
engaging the whole of society
