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<p>The figure that over a quarter of a million hectares of priority habitat have been
created or restored since 2010 is reflective of action taken towards target 1B (an
increase in the overall extent of priority habitats by at least 200,000 ha by 2020)
in Biodiversity 2020 (the Government’s biodiversity strategy for England up to 2020,
published in 2011). This activity was not recorded in a spatial way, but this is something
we are looking to change with reporting towards the Environment Act target to restore
or create over 500,000 hectares of wildlife rich habitat outside of protected sites
by 2042.</p><p> </p><p>In the <a href="https://consult.defra.gov.uk/natural-environment-policy/consultation-on-environmental-targets/supporting_documents/Biodiversity%20terrestrial%20and%20freshwater%20targets%20%20Detailed%20evidence%20report.pdf#:~:text=The%20Environment%20Act%202021%20mandates%20that%20at%20least,Species%20Extinction%20Risk%2C%20Wider%20Habitats%20and%20Protected%20Sites."
target="_blank">evidence report</a> for the Environment Act biodiversity targets,
on page 26, we published a breakdown of habitat created and restored between 2011
and 2019. Although this does not cover the whole time period referenced, it is indicative
of the general split between habitat types created and restored.</p><p> </p><p>Our
best data on the location of priority habitat is the <a href="https://naturalengland-defra.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/Defra::priority-habitat-inventory-central-england/about"
target="_blank">Priority Habitat Inventory</a>. This is a spatial data set that shows
where priority habitat has been recorded. Habitat must be of a sufficient quality
to be considered priority habitat. Habitat is added or removed from the inventory
as evidence on gains and losses become available.</p><p> </p><p>Indicator 2a in the
<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/england-biodiversity-indicators"
target="_blank">England Biodiversity Indicators</a> provides more information about
the condition of priority habitats in England. The indicator outlines the percentage
area of priority habitats under several condition categories. Detail on how condition
is assessed is given in the background section. The D1 outcome indicator of the 25
Year Environment Plan is undergoing further development and in time will describe
the quantity, quality and connectivity of all major habitats across England; priority
habitats would be included within this wider picture, although not at a disaggregated
level.</p>
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