Green organisations have challenged the Government’s claim of being on track to protect 30 per cent of UK’s land and sea for nature by 2030’.
The claims were made by a number of groups including Wildlife and Countryside Link, in response a global commitment the UK spearheaded at COP-15 in 2022, known as the 30×30 target.
However, the Government’s commitment is facing scrutiny due to what the groups say is a lack of concrete evidence provided by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).
Green groups claim a recent report from Wildlife and Countryside Link indicated that only 3.11 per cent of land and up to eight per cent of sea in England are effectively protected for nature.
They say, when asked for evidence or assessments supporting this claim through a Freedom of Information request, Defra was unable to provide any such information.
However Defra maintains that the Government is progressing toward the 30×30 goal.
The State of Nature report suggests a 19 per cent decline in the abundance of UK wildlife over the last 50 years, and that only seven per cent of woodlands and 25 per cent of peatlands are in good condition.
The green groups say more than 100 nature and health organisations are advocating for five key measures, including increased funding for nature-friendly farming, a Nature Recovery Obligation for polluting businesses and a rapid delivery program to achieve the 30×30 target.
Sandy Luk, chief executive of Marine Conservation Society, said: “It has become clear that the UK Government claim of being ‘on track’ toward the 30×30 commitment lacks substantiated evidence.
“The latest State of Nature report highlights the pressing issue of nature decline, so we are going to need urgent, tangible action if we are to restore 30 per cent of land and sea by 2030.”
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