NEWS RELEASE
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR

10 February 2004

DEFRA WELCOMES ENGLISH NATURE'S STATE OF NATURE: THE LOWLANDS REPORT- BRADSHAW

Speaking at the launch in London today of English Nature's State of Nature Report on the English Lowlands, Ben Bradshaw, Minister for Nature Conservation and Fisheries said:

"I welcome and commend this Report which provides valuable scientific advice and draws attention to threats to lowland habitats.

"The report's findings that the only sure way to secure a future from the spectrum of environmental threats to our wildlife and habitats in the lowlands is to tackle the problem on several fronts at once. A piecemeal approach just does not work. This advice helps us - and our partners outside Government - to further progress against our biodiversity indicators in the lowlands.

"Government has already taken action on several of the Report's ten most critical concerns. The reform of CAP arrangements in 2003, as part of Government's Strategy for Sustainable Food and Farming, has created new measures for farmers to meet standards in key areas such as the environment, public health and animal welfare. Additionally, decoupling of support payments from production and the introduction of the new agri-environment schemes in 2005 will offer positive benefits to the protection of our wildlife and habitats.

Mr Bradshaw continued:

"Last year we published our baseline assessment for the England biodiversity strategy "Working with the grain of nature1" which contained 46 indicators. The aim of the strategy was to ensure that the protection and enhancement of our wildlife and habitats was built into all policies and programmes in a positive way. As that baseline assessment shows, five Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) habitats and 23 species show an increasing trend and these include lowland heath and lowland raised bog, stone curlew and the cirl bunting and the position regarding lowland calcareous grassland has stabilised. The Lowlands report also notes the major successes in restoring cereal field margins under the Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Area schemes - meeting the BAP target well ahead of schedule. Similarly, CSS funds have helped secure a significant increase in cirl bunting populations in Devon, significantly exceeding the BAP target.

We want to ensure that special sites were set within a wider 'wildlife-friendly' landscape, reducing fragmentation of habitats and supporting species populations in healthy ecosystems. The strategy has set out a programme of actions under several themes including water and wetlands, woodland and forestry activities and towns, cities and development issues.

"In addition, we have led work with others to review and improve action to tackle the problems of invasive non-native species affecting our countryside.

"If we are to protect and enhance our environment we must take a joined-up approach to solving the problems before us. That is why we have set out our long term vision on water issues in "Directing the Flow - priorities for future water policy2" and the implementation of the Water Framework Directive will help deliver that vision; we are shortly to consult formally on a range of options to tackle diffuse water pollution from agriculture. The UK Air Quality Strategy will also be reviewed with a view to enhancing objectives to protect ecosystems from air pollution effects."

Notes for editors

1. Working with the grain of nature - A biodiversity strategy for England, Defra, October 2002.

2. Directing the Flow - priorities for future water policy, Defra, November 2002.

END

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