RSPB Action

Nature can't recover on paper. The UK's goal to protect and effectively manage 30% of land & sea for nature by 2030 isn't about colouring in 30% of a map. A new UK Govt report gets that right: protected areas only count if they're properly managed, monitored and funded.

Many marine protected areas still lack effective management and monitoring. Existing farm and land management funding isn't being targeted at 30x30 delivery. And there are virtually no incentives for landowners to seek recognition for places already helping nature recover.

Nature can't recover on paper. The UK's goal to protect and effectively manage 30% of land & sea for nature by 2030 isn't about colouring in 30% of a map. A new UK Govt report gets that right: protected areas only count if they're properly managed, monitored and funded.

Still, there is a big question unanswered: If these are the right principles, how are UK governments putting them into practice? Most of the examples come from overseas. There is surprisingly little about how England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are delivering 30x30 at home.

Nature can't recover on paper. The UK's goal to protect and effectively manage 30% of land & sea for nature by 2030 isn't about colouring in 30% of a map. A new UK Govt report gets that right: protected areas only count if they're properly managed, monitored and funded.

And that like any infrastructure, these natural treasures need investment and long-term stewardship. The report argues that the challenge now isn't defining good conservation, it's delivering it at scale 👇 www.gov.uk/government/p...

Nature can't recover on paper. The UK's goal to protect and effectively manage 30% of land & sea for nature by 2030 isn't about colouring in 30% of a map. A new UK Govt report gets that right: protected areas only count if they're properly managed, monitored and funded.

Are leaders serious about nature recovery? Based on this party conference season, the answer looks like no. We’ve seen too little ambition, alongside proposals that would weaken the protections and institutions nature depends on.

The public doesn’t buy the idea that protecting nature comes at the expense of the things we need. Only 8% believe environmental protections are a barrier to building homes. We can have new homes, a thriving economy and nature recovery.

Are leaders serious about nature recovery? Based on this party conference season, the answer looks like no. We’ve seen too little ambition, alongside proposals that would weaken the protections and institutions nature depends on.

We’ve also heard calls to leave the Aarhus Convention, which gives people a say in environmental decisions and the right to challenge them. Taking those rights away would silence communities at a time they need a voice.

Are leaders serious about nature recovery? Based on this party conference season, the answer looks like no. We’ve seen too little ambition, alongside proposals that would weaken the protections and institutions nature depends on.

Our birds of prey are still paying the price for wildlife crime. With over half of confirmed persecution incidents linked to land managed for gamebird shooting, stronger safeguards are way overdue.

It was great to hear the Secretary of State at Groundswell talking about how nature and profitability in farming go hand in hand - we couldn’t agree more!

Plans for new simplified agreements could help get more land into nature-friendly management, but the ambition of the scheme must remain high. Comprehensive, whole-farm agreements will always be needed to secure a mix of habitats on farms and ensure opportunities are not missed.

It was great to hear the Secretary of State at Groundswell talking about how nature and profitability in farming go hand in hand - we couldn’t agree more!

The Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme is one of the most powerful tools we have to halt and reverse nature’s decline in England. The scheme looks after precious habitats like peatlands, and funds management of land for threatened species like Curlew.

Biodiversity Net Gain is designed to ensure that nature is restored alongside the delivery of new developments. But in practice it isn't delivering what it should or could.

There are proposals to make changes, though not for better. They involve even more exemptions, meaning more developers will be able to avoid contributing back to communities and wildlife through Biodiversity Net Gain.

Biodiversity Net Gain is designed to ensure that nature is restored alongside the delivery of new developments. But in practice it isn't delivering what it should or could.

Great to present the RSPB’s Patterns of Persecution report in Westminster yesterday, hosted by Curlew Champion @joemorrismp.bsky.social The message was clear: England needs a licensing system for gamebird shooting to protect our birds of prey. www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wi...