Environmental Improvement Plan: how the government is monitoring nature targets
As the government undertakes a review of the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 to ensure that nature targets can be met, Bethany Turner looks at how the targets are measured and whether they will be delivered
One of Steve Reed’s first acts as Defra minister was to announce a “rapid review” of the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 (EIP23), to ensure that legally binding nature targets can be delivered. The EIP23, which applies to England, sets out a series of targets and actions that underpin the legally binding targets set under the Environment Act 2021.
One of the targets is to halt species decline by 2030, relative to 2029. This apex goal is supported by a range of other legally binding targets, including creating or restoring 500,000 hectares of a range of wildlife-rich habitats by 2042, and reducing the risk of species extinction by 2042, compared to 2022.
How will the species abundance target be delivered?
These targets might sound familiar to land managers who are actively involved in many of the mechanisms which are being used to deliver the targets. Many of the options funded under Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) are designed to deliver on the environmental targets, and the Landscape Recovery scheme aims to create large-scale nature restoration. The Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) that are currently in development across England will also play a part, by identifying opportunities for nature restoration. Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) will also contribute to the target through the creation of new nature friendly habitats.
National Parks and National Landscapes (formerly known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) will play a major role in delivering the targets, with the new Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcomes Frameworks setting out ambitious goals for these areas. For example, the target for protected landscapes is to deliver 250,000 hectares of the wildlife-rich habitat creation and restoration goal.
How is the species abundance target measured?
Because it would be impossible to effectively monitor the abundance of every single species found in England, a set of 1,195 species were identified as indicator species, which will be used to assess whether the target has been met. The idea is that these species are representative of the wide range of species found across England.
To monitor the target, Defra is collating data from decades of monitoring on each species, which will act as an “abundance indicator”.
In August, Defra published “official statistics in development” around the species abundance indicators. This means that the statistics are still undergoing development and need further testing. Currently, the all-species abundance indicator includes data on 1,177 species, with some data still to be added.
Will the target be achieved?
Many groups have criticised the government’s progress towards the targets, with an Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) report calling progress “deeply concerning”. The EIP23 has been criticised for failing to set out a roadmap for how these targets will be delivered.
However, the same OEP report also found it was not too late for progress to be made. As Environmental Land Management schemes continue to be rolled out, and land managers gain confidence in them, more farmers will be delivering good outcomes for food and for nature. Land managers now have the opportunity to create biodiversity units to sell to developers as part of BNG, and CLA members are involved in a huge range of nature friendly projects, from managing nature reserves to rewiggling rivers.
