1. STOP THE ROT

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

ASSESSMENT – AMBER/RED (unchanged since 2009)

In 2005, the BAP reporting showed that 17 (38%) of BAP habitats and 102 (27%) of BAP species on the original priority list were still declining at a UK level¹. A slightly higher proportion of the UK priority species and habitats that were relevant to England (43% of habitats and 28% of species) were reported to be declining. 

The results of the 2008 reporting round² show a disappointing lack of positive change in the number of species and habitats reported to be declining in the last three years, either at a UK level or in England.  Indeed, the proportion of habitats that were declining actually increased to 45% in England and 42% at UK level.  Although the number and proportion of species in the declining categories decreased (to 24% in both England and UK), this improvement was mostly offset by an increase in the number of species that were reported to have been lost since the publication of the BAP (7 from England and 8 from the UK). 

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.  Overall, it appears that some of the progress that was made in the early years of the BAPhas stalled.

The 2008 BAP reporting did not cover the species and habitats added to the UK BAP list in August 2007.  Some 324 of the 1150 species on this revised list were included due to their severe decline (more than 50% in last 25 years).  At present, there is no timescale for reporting the status or trends for the species and habitats added to the list in 2007 or for the development of targets.

In November 2008, Natural England launched the new framework for delivering priority habitats and species.  One of the key elements of this framework is the aim to deliver a significant proportion of species conservation needs through habitat work.  A year on and this new approach is still being developed and deployed.  We hope that it will lead to more conservation action on the ground but it is still too early to assess whether it will make sufficient difference to conservation delivery.

Further assessments:

Protect the Best
Restore the Rest

Full Progress Assessment (pdf)