The Natural Choice: An overview of The Natural Environment White Paper (NEWP) David Kingsley-Rowe Lead Advisor Natural England

Transcription

1 The Natural Choice: An overview of The Natural Environment White Paper (NEWP) David Kingsley-Rowe Lead Advisor Natural England

2 Agenda for Today Background to the NEWP Key messages and themes England Biodiversity Strategy NEWP and EBS how is it relevant to Notts? Conclusions

3 Background NEWP was not developed in isolation built on a long legacy Convention on Biological Diversity UK Biodiversity Action Plan Gothenburg Agreement Working with the Grain of Nature National Ecosystem Assessment and TEEB Nagoya Aichi Targets Making Space for Nature

4 Making Space for Nature An independent review of England s ecological networks Published in Sept 2010 Set out to answer two main questions: Do England s wildlife sites comprise a coherent and resilient ecological network? If not, what needs to be done?

5 Making Space for Nature we have concluded that England s collection of wildlife sites, diverse as it is, does not comprise a coherent and resilient ecological network even today, let alone one that is capable of coping with the challenge of climate change and other pressures. The evidence is equally compelling that to establish such a network will make efficient use of scarce land and resources, and deliver many benefits to wildlife and people. MORE, BIGGER, BETTER, JOINED Lawton et.al. (2010) Making Space for Nature: a review of England s wildlife sites and ecological network. Report to Defra.

6 Making Space for Nature 24 recommendations including: The better protection and management of designated sites Establishment of Ecological Restoration Zones; Move SSSIs from Recovering to Favourable Promote economic approaches that favour conservation management by stimulating the creation of new markets and payment for ecosystem services

7 Making Space for Nature 77% of SSSIs and 98% of LWS are smaller than 100 ha For several BAP habitats the median patch size is smaller than 2 ha - 50% of the remaining fragments are smaller than the size of just 2 football pitches 40% of our entire extent of lowland calcareous grassland is on Salisbury Plain Over 50% of remaining species-rich grasslands is within SSSIs but this represents less than 2% of the habitat that existed as recently as 1930

8 What is the NEWP 1 st white paper on the environment since 1990 Sets out a vision for the natural environment for the next 50 years Recognises that even with best efforts biodiversity continues to decline Shifts emphasis from piecemeal conservation action towards integrated landscape scale approach It includes 92 commitments that help provide: A more strategic approach to nature conservation A framework to bring together a wider range of people New options to tackle challenges

9 Natural Environment White Paper Vision: Realising the value of nature Clearer values, better choices More benefits for more people from a healthy natural environment now and in the future Key Themes Ecosystems services: benefits focus Landscape scale activity: appropriate geography People at the centre: as beneficiaries and shapers Long-term view: 50 year vision & road-map approach Nature as dynamic system resilience & coherence

10 Natural Environment White Paper The NEWP Story Protect and enhance the natural environment Create a thriving green economy which supports growth Connect/reconnecting people and nature International and EU leadership Monitoring and reporting progress Underpinning principles Flexible; Fair; Sustainable; Transparent; Systemic also other coalition founding principles : freedom, responsibility, power shift, horizon shift

11 NEWP long-term ambitions Biodiversity move progressively to net gain; functioning ecosystems; coherent, resilient ecological networks Landscape strong local character; reflect needs and aspirations of local communities; qualities enhanced Soils managed sustainably to improve quality and safeguard essential ecosystem services Water clean, abundant wildlife; good ecological status Seas clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse; Urban considered in development; provide diverse functions for people and wildlife; climate adaptation & regeneration

12 Natural Environment White Paper Key commitments Publish EBS 2020 Mission to halt biodiversity loss and establish coherent ecological networks Local Nature Partnerships Nature Improvement Areas Biodiversity Offsetting Reduce peat consumption to zero Develop a roadmap for a green economy Protect natural value through the planning system

13 Biodiversity 2020: A Strategy for England s Wildlife and Ecosystem Services EBS provides the national framework for action to help achieve the NEWP goals Provides picture of how England is implementing international and EU commitments EBS 2020 mission: Halt overall biodiversity loss Support healthy functioning ecosystems Establish coherent ecological networks Provide more and better places for nature for the benefit of people and wildlife

14 Biodiversity 2020: A Strategy for England s Wildlife and Ecosystem Services EBS high level outcomes: Habitats and ecosystems on land Marine habitats, ecosystems and fisheries Species People By 2020 we will have put in place measures so that biodiversity is maintained and enhanced, further degradation has been halted and where possible, restoration is underway, helping deliver more resilient and coherent ecological networks, healthy and well-functioning ecosystems, which deliver multiple benefits for wildlife and people

15 England Biodiversity Strategy Delivery of the four outcomes through four themes A more integrated large-scale approach to conservation on land and sea Putting people at the heart of biodiversity policy Reducing environmental pressures Improving our knowledge Each theme then has a number of priority actions e.g. establish more coherent and resilient ecological networks on land that safeguard ecosystem services for the benefit of wildlife and people

16 Relevance for Nottinghamshire How many of things we have talked about today are likely to be relevant to Notts? NIA/Landscape scale LNP and general partnership working Biodiversity offsetting Improving conditions of SSSIs NCA Update Catchment level partnerships Green Areas designation Investment in the NBN and creation of new fund for biodiversity recording

17 Conclusions The NEWP and EBS is still very new and not all details are clear We need some time to fully work out these details to be effective in delivery We must not confuse the overarching mission with the framework: Halt overall biodiversity loss Support healthy functioning ecosystems Establish coherent ecological networks Provide more and better places for nature for the benefit of people and wildlife

18 Final Slide Improve the quality of current sites Increase the size Enhance connections Create new sites BIGGER, BETTER, JOINED (and MORE)

19 THANK YOU David Kingsley-Rowe Lead Advisor Natural England

20 National Ecosystems Assessment National Ecosystems Assessment Launched June 2011 Comprehensive analysis of the value provided to society by the natural environment 6 Key findings The benefits of the natural environment can be significant Value of inland wetlands for water quality c. 1.5bn per yr Health benefits of green spaces 300 per person per yr