The State of Nature
The 2023 State of Nature report, published today, is a stark reminder that our wildlife is still declining at an alarming rate:
- One in six species is now at risk of being lost from Great Britain
- The wildlife studied has, on average, declined by 19% since monitoring began in 1970
- Most important habitats are in poor condition, though restoration projects have clear benefits for nature, people and adapting to climate change
This is the tenth year of reporting, so why are we not seeing greater improvements? Nature conservation does work but the scale and ambition of our collective efforts need to be rapidly ramped up if we are going to stop and reverse these declines. Crucially, we urgently need ambitious government policies that are implemented to drive forward meaningful action for wildlife and secure nature's recovery. We cannot let nature drop down the political agenda - there is far too much at stake, and no time to waste.
We know how worried people are about the state of nature, the impacts of climate change, the loss of local wild places, and the lack of progress. It has never been more evident that people care about the state of the natural world, and it's time that politicians hear that message. With a general election on the horizon, The Wildlife Trusts are calling upon all political parties to commit to a plan to restore nature based on these five priorities:
1. Bring back the UK’s lost wildlife
Nature is declining at a speed never previously seen and shows no sign of slowing. We need the next government to put nature into recovery, on land and at sea, by the end of the next Parliament. Nature is vital to us all – for the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the space to help us feel secure, happy, and healthy.
2. End river pollution and water scarcity
The UK is ranked as one of the worst countries in Europe for water quality, with pollution beyond legal limits caused by a toxic cocktail of sewage and agricultural pollution. The state of our rivers is a national disgrace. They
are no longer suitable homes for wildlife, they are not fit for people to swim in, and we are seeing water availability decrease before our eyes. This is a crisis – and one which the public wants to see urgently resolved. The next UK government must sufficiently fund enforcement agencies to do their job. By 2030, nutrient pollution from farming, sewage and development must be halved, there must be stronger protections for chalk streams, and more wetlands should be created to tackle flooding and drought.
3. Fund wildlife-friendly farming
Food production relies on healthy soils, clean water, and a stable climate. But farming is too often unsustainable. By supporting farmers to shift towards regenerative, nature-friendly methods, farming has huge potential to deliver a green rural renewal. Working with nature can increase farm profits and resilience, reduce costs, and maintain or even improve yields. Many farmers and land managers have gone to great lengths to support wildlife but without being adequately rewarded. The budget for environmental farming has already fallen by a third since 2010. Not investing properly means everyone loses. Farmers must be supported and incentivised to help wildlife recover by creating more space for nature, significantly reducing pollution, and halving harm from pesticides by 2030. The budget for nature-friendly farming should increase to at least £4.4 billion a year.
4. Enable healthy communities
More than a third of the population – nearly 9.5 million households in England – are unable to access green spaces near their home. Improving access to natural, wildlife-rich places where we live, learn and work will transform people’s lives, improving health, happiness and hope. The next UK government must support the creation of more greenspace in neighbourhoods, fund and integrate green prescribing into community-based health services and enable all children to access outdoor learning opportunities.
5. Tackle the climate emergency by protecting and restoring natural habitats
Climate change is driving nature’s decline, and the loss of wildlife and wild places leaves us ill-equipped to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to these changes. One crisis cannot be solved without the other. The UK has a target of Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Nature can make a massive contribution to achieving this, or an even more ambitious target — but only if we restore our damaged ecosystems. The next UK government must integrate climate adaptation strategies across all departments, create a nature recovery network to help wildlife adapt to change, protect blue carbon stores from damage, and invest in energy efficiency.