31 January 2023
Wildlife and Countryside Link has welcomed commitments in the Environment Improvement Plan (EIP) to give everyone access to natural space within fifteen minutes’ from their home, and for new species recovery funding. However, the coalition has also warned that these must be locked into law and given long-term funding to ensure the commitments become permanent action.
Dr Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said:
“Ensuring easy access to nature would be great news for health and wellbeing, especially for the millions of people living in neighbourhoods deprived of natural space. The Government’s positive commitment today should be locked into law, with a clear mission in the Levelling Up Bill to ensure that everyone can benefit from a healthy environment.
“New species recovery funding is excellent, but it must be more than a flash in the pan. The forthcoming Spring Budget must underline the intentions of the Environmental Improvement Plan by setting out the long-term investment needed to halt nature’s decline – the Prime Minister will need to ensure that every Department, including Treasury, is full square behind the plan’s delivery.”
The EIP needs to include measurable and timebound policies and actions that will add up to meeting nature 2030 targets and halting the decline of nature by 2030.
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