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1700745

registered interest
date	15/04/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Biodiversity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in reforming incentives, including subsidies for ecologically harmful activities, as required under Target 18 of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
tabling member printed	Lord Randall of Uxbridge
uin	HL3785
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2024 answer text <p>In May 2024, the UK plans to publish its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), which will set out national targets and policies for implementing targets in the Global Biodiversity Framework, including Target 18. This will include a target to identify any incentives and subsidies that are harmful to biodiversity. The UK already has a positive story to tell on reforming incentives through our work to deliver the Agricultural Transition. Our Environmental Land Management schemes will incentivise farmers to improve biodiversity, soil health and air and water quality, reduce agricultural emissions, restore peatland, and establish and restore woodlands and forests.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 19/04/2024 13:39:37 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	209 label Biography information for Lord Randall of Uxbridge

1681338

registered interest
date	10/01/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Biodiversity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to expedite the delivery of the apex goal set out in the Executive Summary of the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 to halt the decline in biodiversity and achieve 'thriving plants and wildlife'.
tabling member printed	Lord Randall of Uxbridge
uin	HL1460
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2024 answer text <p>We are committed to meeting our ambitious target to halt and then reverse species decline and are accelerating action towards delivery.</p><p> </p><p>In June last year we launched a multi-million-pound Species Survival Fund to provide early progress towards our species abundance targets and support the recovery of declining species. The fund will support projects focussed on the creation and restoration of wildlife-rich habitats, including on protected sites.</p><p> </p><p>Through Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme Capital Grant Scheme, launched April 2023, we have also provided £14.5M of funding for 63 projects delivered in partnership with 74 different organisations to take action to halt and reverse the decline of 150 rare species, including the critically endangered European eel and the Greater Mouse-eared bat.</p><p> </p><p>In November we announced the 34 projects selected for the £25 million second round of our Landscape Recovery scheme. These projects will collectively restore more than 35,000 hectares of peatland, sustainably manage more than 20,000 hectares of woodland, including some temperate rainforest, create over 7,000 hectares of new woodland and benefit more than 160 protected sites (SSSIs). This builds on the success of the first 22 Landscape Recovery projects which are already underway, aiming to restore more than 600 km of rivers and targeting the conservation of more than 260 flagship species. This is alongside increased incentives, announced in January, for farmers to deliver environmental outcomes which will support habitats and species through our Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship schemes.</p><p> </p><p>We are also rolling out Nature Recovery Projects across the country to create improved and better-connected habitats for wildlife and improve public access to nature. In July 2023 we launched a further six projects covering over 176,000 ha of land across England. These projects build on the G7 legacy project in Cornwall launched in 2021 and the five other nature recovery projects launched in 2022 which together span around 120,200 hectares.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 30/01/2024 13:25:55 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	209 label Biography information for Lord Randall of Uxbridge

1584780

registered interest
date	06/02/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Biodiversity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether any department monitors loss of wild plant, insect and animal life, such as butterflies, and if so, who; and what steps they have taken to ensure maintenance of biodiversity.
tabling member printed	Lord West of Spithead
uin	HL5493
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/02/2023 answer text <p>Defra uses a number of indicators to track changes in the abundance and distribution of species. A summary of these indicators is available in the England Biodiversity Indicators publication available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/england-biodiversity-indicators" target="_blank">GOV.UK</a>. The indicators include data from a number of different species monitoring schemes, which are carried out by a range of organisations including Defra and its arm’s length bodies, research institutes, non-governmental organisations and private individuals (often as part of citizen science initiatives)</p><p><br> In England we have set four legally binding targets for biodiversity:</p><p>- By 2030: to half the decline in species abundance</p><p>- By 2042: to reverse declines; to reduce the risk of species extinction; and restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat.</p><p> </p><p>These targets will drive actions to support biodiversity in Hertfordshire and every other county across England. We have set out our plan to deliver on these ambitious targets, along with our other environmental targets, in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23) published on 31 January 2023. The EIP23 revises the 25-Year Environment Plan as part of our obligations under the Environment Act. Included, we link the different objectives, plans and mechanisms for recovering nature.</p><p><br> Progress towards the species abundance targets will be measured using an indicator that tracks changes in the relative abundance of widespread and priority species that are characteristic of different broad habitats in England. The indicator will include abundance data for 1,195 species, including mammals, birds, fish, plants, butterflies, moths, and other invertebrates.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 15/02/2023 12:51:59 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	3834 label Biography information for Lord West of Spithead

1565305

registered interest
date	09/01/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Biodiversity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what was the rate of biodiversity decline in England in each year between 2010 and 2022; and what estimate they have made of the rate of biodiversity decline by 2030.
tabling member printed	Lord Foster of Bath
uin	HL4550
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2023 answer text <p>There is no single way to measure the health of our biodiversity, so we use a number of indicators to pick up changes in the status of species and habitats. Taken together, they provide a more holistic picture of the state of nature. A summary of these indicators is available at <a href="https://oifdata.defra.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://oifdata.defra.gov.uk/</a>, specifically in the wildlife section D. A wider range of biodiversity related indicators is available in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/england-biodiversity-indicators" target="_blank">England Biodiversity Indicators</a> publication.</p><p> </p><p>Defra’s range of species indicators track changes in relative distribution and abundance. One of the indicators, which is still in development, measures change in relative abundance of widespread species in England. Analysis of this indicator was presented in <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" target="_blank">Defra’s Biodiversity Targets Evidence Report</a>. Based on data for 670 terrestrial animal species in England, analysis indicated a decline in species abundance of 2.8% per year on average between 2012 and 2018.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst we expect some continued decline in species abundance we cannot reliably predict the rate of decline as species will be impacted by changing conditions which we cannot anticipate with any certainty. However, through the Environment Act 2021 we have set world-leading legally binding targets to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030 and then to increase species abundance by at least 10% by 2042, ensuring levels are greater than in 2022.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name Biodiversity terrestrial and freshwater targets - Detailed evidence report.pdf title Evidence Report 2 file name England Biodiversity Indicators Homepage.pdf title Biodiversity Indicators Homepage 3 file name Outcome Indicator Framework Homepage.pdf title Outcome Indicator Framework Homepage question first answered 01/02/2023 15:05:10 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	214 label Biography information for Lord Foster of Bath

1551920

registered interest
date	14/12/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Biodiversity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on their ability to halt biodiversity loss arising from the relevant officials being diverted to work on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.
tabling member printed	Lord Randall of Uxbridge
uin	HL4301
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2023 answer text <p>There is no impact. In reviewing retained EU law, Defra’s aim is to ensure that environmental law is fit for purpose and able to drive improved environmental outcomes, whilst also ensuring regulators can deliver efficiently.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 30/01/2023 12:03:39 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	209 label Biography information for Lord Randall of Uxbridge

1538957

registered interest
date	02/11/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Biodiversity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will bring forward the legislation for targets under the Environment Act 2021 prior to the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in December.
tabling member printed	Lord Randall of Uxbridge
uin	HL3161
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/11/2022 answer text <p>As the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs set out in a written statement published on 28<sup>th</sup> October, we will continue to work at pace in order to lay draft statutory instruments as soon as practicable.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) sets out the steps HM Government intends to take to improve the natural environment. The EIP will be reviewed to include an overview of delivery measures needed to meet targets and at least one interim target for each long-term target that has been set.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon grouped question UIN HL3023 HL3024 HL3025 HL3160 HL3162 question first answered 18/11/2022 14:54:11 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	209 label Biography information for Lord Randall of Uxbridge

1204215

registered interest
date	16/06/2020
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Biodiversity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to replace the Joint Nature Conservation Committee's UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework: Revised Implementation Plan before that plan expires.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL5745
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>Biodiversity is a devolved matter in the UK, and each country has its own national biodiversity plan or strategy. The UK framework was established by the UK Government and Devolved Administrations to identify joint actions to complement country implementation, for example on reporting to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), evidence collation and sharing of best practice.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework and its implementation plan are reviewed regularly by the four UK countries, alongside the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. It is our intention to continue working together to develop a new UK Biodiversity Framework and associated implementation plan, on which discussions are underway.</p><p> </p><p>Our intention is also that the new Biodiversity Framework will set out shared priorities and areas for collaboration across the UK, primarily as a collective response to the post-2020 global framework of goals and targets, expected to be agreed at the CBD’s Fifteenth Conference of the Parties, COP15.</p><p> </p><p>We had envisaged that publication of a new UK Framework would follow COP15, originally scheduled for October 2020, and therefore lead on directly from the existing implementation plan. As COP15 has been delayed to 2021 in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we will ensure that our collaborative momentum continues, including to consider a further revised plan until the new global framework is announced.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 30/06/2020 15:16:49 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1124895

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Biodiversity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to remain closely aligned with the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy after Brexit; and if not, what plans they have to implement a long-term post-Brexit strategy on biodiversity.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL15570
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that, when the UK leaves the EU, our existing environmental protections are maintained and, where possible, enhanced. The European Union (Withdrawal) Act ensures that the whole body of existing EU environmental law, including the Habitats and the Wild Birds Directives, continues to have effect in UK law following our departure from the EU.</p><p> </p><p>The EU Biodiversity Strategy implements commitments to halt biodiversity loss agreed in 2010 by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.</p><p> </p><p>Biodiversity policy is devolved in the UK. In England, those same international commitments to halt biodiversity loss are implemented through the Biodiversity 2020 Strategy and related documents such as the National Pollinator Strategy.</p><p> </p><p>In the 25 Year Environment Plan, we committed to developing a new strategy for nature to replace Biodiversity 2020. Our intention is to publish this strategy in early 2021 to take forward the new international commitments for biodiversity, in particular the new global biodiversity framework, to be agreed under the Convention on Biological Diversity, in 2020. It will also set out in more detail how we intend to take forward the ambitions for nature in the 25 Year Environment Plan.</p><p> </p><p>Under the new strategy, the Government will continue to work towards, among other things, clean, safe, healthy, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas; and on land, restoring 75% of our protected sites to favourable condition by 2042 and establishing a Nature Recovery Network. The Nature Recovery Network will expand and connect wildlife rich habitat by developing landscape scale partnerships to manage land in a way that supports the recovery of our much loved wildlife.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 20/05/2019 16:09:40 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1002202

registered interest
date	05/11/2018
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Biodiversity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings in the Living Planet Report 2018, published by the World Wildlife Fund and Zoological Society of London, that (1) there has been a decline of 60 per cent in species population sizes between 1970 and 2014, and (2) species population declines are especially pronounced in the tropics; and what strategy, if any, they have to address these findings.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL11223
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government recognises that there have been declines in species populations across the world since 1970 and that declines have been pronounced in many tropical ecosystems. This downward trend and the impact it has on peoples’ economic and social wellbeing highlights the need to strengthen international efforts to tackle biodiversity loss.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to being the first generation to leave our environment in a better state than we found it. We are already working worldwide, including in the tropics, to tackle biodiversity loss, by:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li><p>Investing more than £36 million between 2014 and 2021 to tackle the illegal wildlife trade, and hosting the fourth international Illegal Wildlife Trade conference last month in London. The conference represented a significant step forward in the global fight to eliminate this trade;</p></li><li><p>Committing £210 million of Defra’s International Climate Finance to support projects that aim to protect and restore more than 500,000 hectares of the world’s most biodiverse forests. For example, we are supporting communities in Madagascar to protect mangrove forests, which are important habitats for the protection of many species, some of which are found nowhere else on earth;</p></li><li><p>Ambitious plans under the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan to reverse the decline of many species and help wildlife survive and thrive. We are committed to protecting the oceans, and have called for at least 30 per cent of the oceans to be in Marine Protected Areas by 2030. The UK is also leading the fight against plastic pollution; and</p></li><li><p>Introducing one of the world’s toughest bans on ivory sales to protect the elephant.</p></li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are also committed to developing an ambitious post-2020 strategic framework for biodiversity and are working with countries around the world to achieve this under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 13/11/2018 14:56:26 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool