www.naturalengland.org.uk

Delivering the new

biodiversity agenda

Roger MatthewsNatural England

I will be covering:

• We’ve come a long way• But we still have some way to go• It’s been a busy year• Delivering at a landscape scale• In an integrated way• Working in partnership• Seeking alternative sources of funding• The environment is good for you

1960 – 2010

We’ve come a long way

Designated sites:why aren’t they enough?

The reasons England’s wildlife sites don’t comprise a coherent and resilient network

• Many of England's wildlife sites are too small (77% of SSSIs and 98% of Local Wildlife Sites are smaller than 100 ha)

• Losses of certain habitats have been so great that the area remaining is no longer enough to halt additional biodiversity losses without concerted efforts

• With the exception of Natura2000 sites and SSSIs, most of England's semi-natural habitats important for wildlife are generally insufficiently protected and under-managed

• Many of the natural connections in our countryside have been degraded or lost, leading to isolation of sites

• Too few people have easy access to wildlife.

Duke if Burgundy butterflySouth East 1990-2007

Duke of Burgundy butterflySouth East 2009

Our thinking on how to deliver biodiversity has been evolving - it’s been a busy year

• National Ecosystem Assessment• The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)• Making Space for Nature (Lawton Report)• EU Biodiversity Strategy • UN Convention of Biological Diversity• Healthy Lives, healthy People: Our Strategy for Public health in England• Natural Environment White Paper - The Natural Choice: Securing the value of Nature• etc....

So how do we translate all this in to delivery on the ground?

• So how does this all actually translate into delivery?

Delivering at a landscape scale Making Space for Nature - Lawton Review

• Better• Bigger• More• Joined • More permeable landscape

• Do all of the above at a landscape scale

Bringing habitats into favourable management - Managing habitats as mosaics- Maximising the number of niches

Size is importantExample: flower-rich chalk grassland

• 4300 ha of flower-rich chalk grassland left on the Downs, 4% of the chalk block

• 650 patches, average size 6.5 ha – a third of the total area is in patches less than 10 ha

• Concentrated on scarp slope – much is isolated and fragmented

Chalk grassland re-creation – Brighton area

Nature Improvement Areas

Nature Improvement Areas are large, discrete areas that will deliver a step change in nature conservation, where a local partnership has a shared vision for their natural environment. The partnership will plan and deliver significant improvements for wildlife and people through the sustainable use of natural resources, connecting local sites and joining up local action.

• Ecological restoration Zones • Different to LNPs• Competition• 10,000 – 50,000 ha in size• 12 initial NIAs in first tranche• £7.5million• NIAs funded for 3 years 2011-2014• Panel chaired by Prof. John Lawton

Some of the developing NIAs in the South East100+ developing across England

Farmland bird targeting & delivery on the South Downs

- The South Downs is a very important area for farmland birds, in particular lapwing, grey partridge and corn bunting, as well as skylark, yellowhammer and linnet,

- Use new data on specific farmland bird habitat area requirements, overlain with current a-e scheme farmland bird prescription areas, to target squares lacking in key options, whilst avoiding those where thresholds already met. Combine the above with our good knowledge of species current distribution,

- Use targeting to guide a significant Classic scheme early transfer programme, new HLS agreements, and refresh of existing HLS agreements where targeting suggests farmland bird options are missing,

- Work closely with landowners and partners to take forward agreed work programme.

Integrated delivery - delivering multiple ecosystem services on the same piece of land

Clean drinking water

Good environmental management- Tackle the source- slow the pathway- protect the receptor

Households that are deficient in ANG (for 300m ANGSt)

www.naturalengland.org.uk

Connectivity, Topography, Mitigation, Sensitivity and Value (200m grid)

High Vulnerability

Low Vulnerability

Initial visual representation only – not for use

Use of evidence to identify priorities

Working in partnership – going well beyond the usual suspects

Local Nature PartnershipsVision

• Diverse partnerships• Local environmental leadership• Influence local decision making• Shared environmental priorities• Add value to local area development• Contribute to green economy – working with Local Economic partnerships and businesses• Cooperate to align efforts and resources• Work at a landscape scale• Support Nature Improvement Areas

Brighton & Hove Biosphere Reserve bid

core area

buffer area

transition zone

Need to ensure that the management that delivers the landscape and biodiversity we value is financially viable and not dependent on Government grants

Branding – eat the view burn the view

Big health issues of the day

Obesity epidemico In the UK rates have

tripled in the past 20 yearso Cost of obesity to society

will be ~£50 billion pa by 2020o It is an indicator for Chronic heart

disease, type II diabetes &

Hypertension.

Diabeteso 2 million people in UK affectedo Associated problems costs

£5.2billion a year

Mental health problemso 1 in 6 people affectedo Anxiety and depression most commono £12 billion on health and social care service & £23 billion in lost economic output

Hastings and St Leonards

Hailsham and Eastbourne

Newhaven

B&H

Littlehampton

Worthing

Shoreham

Less space for children

Biodiversity, green space & health

Reduce stress, anxiety & depression

Enhance social interaction & promote

independent living

Help promote & sustain increased physical activity

Greenspace can: Save lives Help local authorities with pressing social, health & wellbeing issues

Evidence to support the case:Living in the greenest areas significantly reduces the health inequality gap between rich and poor. (Lancet, 2008)For every 10% increase in green space there can be a reduction in health complaints in communities equivalent to a reduction of 5 years of age. (Nature & Health, 2001)

Natural Health Service

Aims:

o Every GP & health professional to be able to refer their patients into a Health Walk or other Green Exercise opportunity.

o Everyone to have access to Natural Greenspace and Green Exercise initiatives close to where they live.

Brighton & Hove’s network of green spaces

Biodiversity right up to your backdoor