Biodiversity or Bust?7 July 2008
The Government is on course to miss its own target to halt the loss of biodiversity in the UK by 2012.
That is the finding of the first annual check of the condition of UK wildlife by Wildlife & Countryside Link (WCL).
A diverse habitat in a wild flower meadow in Oxfordshire
WCL, of which Friends of the Earth is a member, reported that progress by the Government to restore and protect wildlife and biodiversity is too patchy.
WCL used a Red-Amber-Green traffic light system. It gave the Government:
- Amber for most of the indicators it assessed.
- Red for not making progress to protect the marine environment.
- Green for the condition of some Sites of Special Scientific Interest - although others still need urgent help to halt their decline.
A similar study by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) also shows that more effort is needed from the Government to hit its targets.
The Government's desire to promote large scale road, housing and other development has squeezed wildlife and biodiversity in recent decades.
Can the Government improve its score when the next assessments are carried out later in 2007?
Wildlife in a changing climate
New research for the Government shows how England's biodiversity is showing signs of being affected by climate change.
Biodiversity is also one of our greatest weapons in the battle against climate change. So it is critical that any action plan to reduce climate change, includes the effective and sustainable management of our ecosystems.
Barry Gardiner MP
Duty calls for public bodies
A new act now requires public bodies such as the Police, local councils and the National Health Service to 'have regard' to biodiversity.
Every public authority must, have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity.
Natural Environment and Rural Communitiese Act 2006
The Government has issued new guidance to help these bodies comply with the act.
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