Defra has launched the 2008 Biodiversity Indicators to help measure the health of the UK’s wildlife.  They have also announced the Section 41 list of habitats and species of principal importance for conservation in England.

"We have yet to halt biodiversity loss, but the biodiversity indicators do demonstrate that progress is being made and that longer-term declines in our species and habitats are slowing.

"The Wildlife Trusts welcome the Government’s decision to use a more comprehensive suite of indicators including bats and wintering wading birds as a measure of the health of our wildlife and natural environment", explains John Everitt, The Wildlife Trusts’ head of Living Landscape.

Species and nature reserves are the ‘canaries’ of climate change

For a long time The Wildlife Trusts have argued that the UK’s species and nature reserves are the ‘canaries’ of climate change. We need to monitor these changes to ensure we make the right decisions on future policies that affect the natural environment, including planning, agriculture and flood risk management.

Significant threats still exist and we will only see an upward trend for our wildlife if Government puts the natural environment centre stage in the challenge to adapt to climate change.

Habitats and species of principal importance for conservation in England

The Wildlife Trust believe that the Section 41 list of habitats and species of principal importance for conservation in England will not only help to prevent activities that damage our precious wildlife, but will also promote positive steps to reconnect our natural environment.

We now need to see the right policies and funding in place through planning and agriculture to restore and create a Living Landscape across the whole country.

After announcing the Section 41 list, Hilary Benn visited Amwell nature reserve in Hertfordshire, which is owned by the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust and is a key part of The Wildlife Trusts’ Lee Valley Living Landscape project.

This project aims to restore and connect areas along the Lee Valley, all the way from Hertfordshire to East London. It involves creating new habitat for wildlife and places for people to use and enjoy which can also deliver benefits like flood risk management. The Wildlife Trusts in Hertfordshire & Middlesex, Essex and London are working together to achieve this.

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