1. STOP THE ROT

Our performance indicator:
No BAP priority species and no habitats ‘still declining’ by 2010.

ASSESSMENT – RED

In 2008, the fourth reporting round was carried out for the original Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority species and habitats¹. The data collected in this exercise show that in 2008 in England, 18 (45%) of BAP priority habitats were declining and 93 (29%) of priority species were declining or had been lost.  This was a slight deterioration for habitats and a slight improvement for species since the previous reporting round in 2005.  Therefore, the outcome to stop the decline of species and habitats has clearly not been met.

Some priority habitats, such as reedbeds and lowland heathlands are increasing in England and a number of species, e.g. stone-curlew, large blue butterfly, ladybird spider and stinking hawk’s-beard have benefited from targeted species recovery measures.  However, these success stories are too few and far between; there are still too many species and habitats in trouble. 

In 2006, measurable targets were reset at a country level for the original BAP priority species and habitats.  Milestones were set for 2010, 2015 and in some cases longer timescales.  Limited reporting on progress against these targets was possible in 2008.  The end of 2010 would be the most appropriate time to assess how much progress has been made.  However, it is apparent that there are no plans from Government or its agencies for reporting on progress against the species targets in England and no clear timetable or mechanism for reporting against 2010 habitat targets in England has been announced.  

The 2008 BAP reporting did not cover the species and habitats added to the UK BAP list in August 2007.  This revision resulted in the identification of 943 species and 56 habitats of principle importance for biodiversity conservation under s41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.  At present, there is apparently no clear baseline of the status of these species and habitats or timescale for reporting the trends in the future.   Addressing this gap should be part of our preparation for delivering the EU 2020 biodiversity target.

In October 2007, Defra launched the new framework for delivering priority habitats and species through an ecosystem approach². This was followed by a new framework for England in 2008³.  One of the key elements of these frameworks is the aim to deliver a significant proportion of species conservation needs through habitat work.  We appreciate that the significant increase in priority species and habitats necessitated a new approach.

However, rather than simplifying processes and making communication more effective, the opposite has occurred. Rather than galvanising increased participation and action for biodiversity the changes appear to have resulted in disengagement at all levels in the biodiversity conservation community. We believe that progress on species and habitat conservation has stalled in recent years, the communication between national and local levels has deteriorated and we do not have an effective reporting system.

These are issues that must be addressed by the Natural Environment White Paper and the review of the England Biodiversity Strategy.

Further assessments:

Protect the Best
Restore the Rest

Full Progress Assessment (pdf)