The UK might not achieve its 30×30 target of protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030 if urgent actions are not implemented by the government, a think tank has said.
London-based Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) released the study on Tuesday, underscoring the need for additional policies to halt nature loss and restore the country’s ecosystems.
Despite the country’s commitment to the 2030 target under the 2021 Environment Act, less than 3% of the country’s land and 8% of its seas are effectively protected to date, author Joseph Evans wrote.
The study primarily focused on agricultural production, considered the main driver of land change in the UK.
According to the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra), agriculture takes up around 70% of land in the UK.
“The UK’s rivers are also impacted, with intensive livestock and poultry farming contributing to the poor ecological state of the UK’s waterways,” the study said.
“The build-up of high levels of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen from sewage and animal waste is choking rivers with algal blooms which reduce oxygen levels, suffocating fish, plants, and invertebrates.”
The study outlined three recommendations for policymakers on how to address the biodiversity crisis:
- Develop legally binding targets for tackling sewage polluters, while strengthening powers for the Environment Agency to enforce sanctions
- Deliver additional funding for sustainable farming in a bid to support farmers in the transition
- Legally establish a right to roam that aims to expand rights of responsible access to the UK countryside
“Britain’s natural landscapes are a source of pride for many of us, but the UK’s nature is in a dire state: biodiversity is failing, species are declining, and many people simply don’t have reasonable access to green spaces,” Evans said in a statement.
“The new government has an opportunity to reverse nature’s decline and drive progressive change around the country, and restoring nature must be a cornerstone of the government’s national renewal strategy.”
The UK has already implemented a series of measures to address biodiversity loss in the country under the Environment Act, including the biodiversity net gain (BNG) legislation that has required development projects in England to achieve a net biodiversity improvement of at least 10% since February.
The BNG legislation has faced numerous issues over the last year, including claims it could incentivise building in nature recovery areas, pose serious risks to ecology, and lacks a strong market infrastructure.
In May, a separate study by the National Audit Office (NAO) warned that Defra launched the BNG legislation before ensuring that all the necessary elements were in place for the scheme to be successful, while another study by scientists at University of Cambridge said additional conservation efforts are needed to reach 10% net gain for some species.
“The UK ranks among the bottom 10% globally for biodiversity, with only 53% of its biodiversity remaining. Alarmingly, 41% of UK species have experienced significant population decline since 1970,” IPPR said in a press release.
By Giada Ferraglioni – giada@carbon-pulse.com
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