Natural England has today published its first audit of the country's natural environment. The seven chapter report, entitled the State of the Natural Environment, focuses on the nation's landscapes, biodiversity, and human interaction with those spaces, and concludes that the natural environment is 'much less rich than 50 years ago.'
Dr Helen Philips, Chief executive of Natural England says that "England needs a new approach to conservation if we are to tackle effectively the modern pressures on land created by climate change and development." The organization has also today published a Manifesto for the Natural Environment outlining what they believe needs to be done in order to conserve the country's natural heritage.
Whilst the audit claims that we are 'broadly maintaining the character of England's landscapes' it also found that around a fifth of that land shows 'signs of neglect'. It also affirms the need for better woodland management of ecologically rich areas, where they have found a large decline in native woodland butterflies, around 50% in the case of the mountain ringlet butterfly.
The report sites development, intensive farming and climate change as the three main contributing factors leading to the deterioration of habitats. Of extreme concern was thestress being placed on coastlines, where saltmarsh and wetland habitats are being lostto the rising sea. In the south-east of England the audit charted a 25% loss in saltmarsh habitats, and found that populations of wading birds, such as the snipe, have droppedby up to 90% in some areas.
The report showed that existing measures to preserve valuable sites is working, andcited a 'dramatic increase' in the condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest(SSSI's) over the last decade, as well as the successful reintroduction of species such asthe red kite, the nightjar and the woodlark as evidence. It also found that the Species Recovery Programme has been successful in re-introducing brome grass, an arable plantthat went extinct, as well as other threatened species, such as the large blue butterflyand the pool frog. However, specialist species, that is species that require very specific habitats in order to survive, are still under massive risk.
The report notes that the population is now more likely to spend their leisure time on an indoor pursuit, but claims that future responses to the problem of declining areas of natural beauty should focus on the mental and physical well-being that they bring topeople. In the face of growing obesity levels, as well as the increased awareness of how important a healthy lifestyle is in preventing later illness, the report champions the opening up of public rights of way and increased use of the countryside to help keepboth it, and us, in tip top shape.
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This post was written by Matthew Gammie on May 19, 2008