Challenges in conservation Alan Law, Director for Biodiversity Delivery, Natural England

Outline Purpose of talk Outline –A sound policy framework –Programmes for delivery –Engagement and collaboration Reflections

A sound policy framework Objectives clear, measurable and achievable Objectives make ecological sense – coherence Connect people and economy with environment Recognisable publicly and politically supported

Biodiversity 2020 sets out to: ‘halt overall biodiversity loss, support healthy well functioning ecosystems and establish coherent ecological networks, with more and better places for nature for the benefit of wildlife and people.’ Outcome 1: Priority habitats (including SSSIs) and ecosystem services Outcome 2: Marine Outcome 3: Species Outcome 4: People Biodiversity 2020

Priority Habitats 90% of priority habitats in target condition; at least 50% SSSIs in favourable, maintaining 95% in favourable/recovering Increase of at least 200,000 ha in priority habitats (and no net loss) At least 17% of England managed effectively to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services At least 15% of degraded ecosystems restored

Protected sites – clear programmes? The SSSI evidence base: –The 20 years ago –Focus on condition and management needs –Today, refinement of condition/objectives Clear links to FCS –Robust resource targeting information Agri-environment, NELMS –Assessment of cumulative effects

Habitat management and restoration

Declining species

Further developments Marine Protected Areas –Map features – presence, extent, sensitivity –Define management needs, record condition Habitat and species inter-relations Aggregate habitat/species data and trends Landscape scale, integrated delivery - Nirvana

Conservation at a landscape scale

Engagement and collaboration Terrestrial Biodiversity Group for England –National collaboration –National and local action – LPA links Basic aggregate outcome reporting still challenging –Mapping national datasets into BARS Alignment of targeting for delivery programmes The wider community partnership

Organising evidence and information

Reflections Excellent policy base Powerful delivery tools, legislative base and conservation bodies Political support needs delivery clarity and confidence Work to do on brigading knowledge and information to target prioritised, proportionate and integrated action Challenge to present outcomes in ways which reflect socio-economic interests Challenge to present information that engages people