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<p>Domestic biodiversity policy is a devolved matter and the information provided
relates to England only, except in relation to our plans internationally.</p><p>On
land, around 94% of our protected sites, covering over 1 million hectares, are now
in good condition or have management in place to restore their condition. At sea,
we are putting management measures in place to protect and expand our Marine Protected
Areas. We have consulted on a third tranche of 41 Marine Conservation Zones. Sites
to be designated will be in place by 7 June.</p><p>Our agencies and non-Departmental
bodies are working on species recovery projects with landowning and conservation partners,
for example on freshwater pearl mussel, short-haired bumblebee and stone curlew.</p><p>The
ongoing declines in nature are a global problem that need a global solution. That
is why the UK is committed to playing a leading role in developing a global post-2020
framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity that is ambitious and transformational.
Our Darwin Initiative supports global action by providing grants to protect biodiversity
and the natural environment, with £10.6 million awarded in 2018. Defra has contributed
almost £6 million over the last three years to Darwin Plus for Overseas Territories’
biodiversity. We continue to support activities to end poaching and the illegal wildlife
trade, and have recently passed new legislation to close our domestic ivory market,
which will be the toughest ivory ban in Europe and one of the toughest in the world.</p><p>The
UK Government has committed to protecting the ocean, and has called for at least 30
per cent of the ocean to be in Marine Protected Areas by 2030. Our Blue Belt programme
will protect marine habitats and species in 4million km<sup>2</sup> around the Overseas
Territories by 2020.</p><p> </p>
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