Natural England are today calling for a new approach to managing our natural environment if it is to stand any chance of adapting to the next 50 years of unavoidable climate change and the modern pressures of development. 

"Natural England has set out a bold agenda for the future and shown how nature is central to our quality of life. Government must now give it the right funding and support to stand up for the natural environment", says John Everitt, The Wildlife Trusts’ Head of Living Landscape.

"The report highlights the serious loss of our precious wildlife over the last 50 years. It makes clear that it is no longer good enough to simply protect what we have, we must also restore and re-connect our natural environment on a landscape-scale if we are to adapt to the pressures of climate change", says Everitt.

The State of the Natural Environment report is accompanied by a manifesto calling for the natural environment to be integrated within wider policy making such as health, flood risk management and energy.

The Wildlife Trusts support the key findings of the report that England’s natural environment is less rich than 50 years ago and remains under significant threat from land use pressures, economic development and climate change. The Trusts agree with the solutions set out in the manifesto.

Key findings from the State of the Natural Environment report include:

Negative changes:
• 20% of England's landscapes are showing signs of neglect
• We have seen a 50% decline in our native woodland butterflies
• Only 3% of our grasslands remain rich in native plants
• 25% of saltmarsh has been lost from the south east of England
• There have been major declines in populations of breeding wading birds such as snipe which is down by 90% in some regions.

Positive changes:
• The long-term decline in many of our farmland birds is slowing
• The overall condition of SSSIs has improved dramatically in the last 10 years.
• Species such as the red kite are recolonising their former range after successful reintroduction, and heathland birds such as nightjars and woodlarks are increasing thanks to better management of our heathland.

Read the report