At the beginning of February 2023 DEFRA, on behalf of the Government, published a major environmental improvement plan covering the next 25 years. In her Foreword The Rt Hon Theresa Coffey MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stated that the plan “sets out how we will improve our environment here in the UK and around the world by working together. Building on the vision set out five years ago in the 25 Year Environment Plan ….. we have laid the foundation stones for our drive to halt the decline of nature by 2030 – our most critical target of all”.
Given the decline in biodiversity and nature during the 20th century and continuing into the current one, this is a major task, and could only be achieved by setting major goals, originally set five years ago in the 25 Year Environment Plan, covering ten significant areas as illustrated in the following graphic.
All of the stated goals, with one exception, as illustrated in this graphic from the report, have a direct bearing on improving plant diversity and wildlife.
The Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 clearly sets, as it major goal, halting the decline in out biodiversity. In addition, the Plan reiterates the new Global Diversity Framework with 23 global targets set at the UN Nature Summit COP15, including 30% of global land and 30% of global ocean to be protected by 2030. Financially the intention is to publish a Green Finance Strategy with a goal to raise £500m per annum of private finance into nature’s recovery by 2027 and £1nb by 20230.
The Plan clearly states that to achieve all of these targets in time we need to begin by improving environmental quality factors such as clean air, water improvement and managing exposure to harmful chemicals.
Achieving a reverse in the decline in our biodiversity will only happen if we make far better use of our natural resources by minimising waste and, as far as possible, mitigate and adapt to climate change. The pandemic was a setback, particularly in relation to household recycling and an increase in the usage of single-use products such as facemasks and test kits. As early as October 2023, single-use plastics such as plastic plates and cutlery will be banned. Using resources from nature more sustainably will include investment in tree planting, publishing a baseline map of soil health in the UK by 2028 and implementing due diligence requirements set out in the Environment Act 2021 to tackle illegal deforestation in our supply chains.
To restore our biodiversity, we need to enhance our biosecurity by reducing the risk of pests, pathogens and invasive non-native species. Bird flu is a good example of this. Improving our biosecurity will be encapsulated in the 2023 Plant Biosecurity Strategy. We also must take more steps at our borders to reduce the risk of importing damaging pathogens, plants and animals.
Apart from the main goals aimed at reversing the decline in biodiversity, the Plan sets as its final goal the enhancement of beauty, heritage and engagement with the natural environment. While wanting everyone to enjoy our environment there are a number of aims to help achieve this, including the desire to ensure that everyone lives within 15 minutes of green spaces, continue the development of the England Coastal Path, green the Green Belt as set-out in the Levelling Up White Paper by identifying key areas for nature restoration, invest in new natural landscape partnerships with the National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Trails, extend the delivery of our Farming in Protected Landscape programme and, finally invest in active travel by further investment in cycle paths and urban walkways.
This new Environmental Plan fits snuggly with the aims of Cumbria in Bloom, which encourages communities through Pride in Your Community and the RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood scheme, school gardening and tourism awards.
Ronnie Auld – February 2023
