Home to the finest variety of wildlife in England
1.1 Improve the condition of protected wildlife sites so that 60% of features in Sites of Special Scientific Interest are assessed as having ‘actions on track’ to achieve favourable condition by the start of 2028, and at least 45% are in favourable condition by 2030.
1.2 Support farmers and landowners to restore and manage landscape-scale mosaics of semi-natural habitats in six ‘nature recovery areas’ (‘Cumbria Connect’; ‘Heart of the Dales’; ‘Snaizeholme’; ‘Tees-Swale: Naturally Connected’; ‘Three Dales’; and ‘Ure Dales’), and develop similar initiatives for at least three additional areas.
1.3 Increase the area of priority habitat outside of Sites of Special Scientific Interest that is in favourable management through agri-environment or similar funding schemes by 10,000 hectares by 2030.
1.4 Ensure that recovery plans are in place and being implemented for all ‘priority wildlife species’ by 2030, so that 85% of those species have stable or increasing populations by 2035.
1.5 Work with farmers, landowners and water companies to improve the condition of rivers – including significantly reducing the frequency of spills from storm overflows at 10 sewage treatment works – so that 65% are in ‘good ecological status’ by 2031.
1.6 Support implementation of the national Wildlife Crime Strategy, so as to end the illegal killing and disturbance of birds of prey and other wildlife by 2028.
1.7 Support farmers and landowners to restore or create 5,000 hectares of new wildlife-rich habitats outside protected sites by 2030 (from a 2022 baseline).
1.8 Support farmers and landowners to bring 75% of woodland into sustainable management by 2030, including positive management of conifer plantations to increase habitat for red squirrels and black grouse.