September 2023 –

We are one of the voices alongside Campaign for National Parks, National Trust, RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts calling out for Government to take action to improve the state of nature across England’s protected sites, National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These places are meant to be some of the best places for nature, supporting amazing species and helping us tackle climate change but right now they aren’t delivering for wildlife or the communities that need them most. 

We need decision-makers to wake up and take action for nature. 

Three years on from the UK Government’s pledge to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030, a new report has shown that England has failed to make progress on protecting more land and sea for nature, has failed to improve the condition of existing protected sites and that government has failed to put policies in place to support reaching the 30×30 target.

• Only 3.11% of England’s land is effectively protected for nature (protected sites in favourable conditions). 
• At a maximum, 8% of England’s sea is effectively protected for nature (Marine Protected Areas with management measures in place). 
• Less than 1 in 5 of the protected rivers were in favourable condition. 
• Nature within protected landscapes is typically in no in better condition and is often in worse condition than nature outside protected landscapes. 

What can we do in the time left?  

For decades, our protected sites and national parks have been ignored and let down by decision-makers. All of this has meant that in the places that are meant to be some of our best for nature, the environment hasn’t always come first. 

Sticking plaster solutions aren’t going to cut it. 

We need to give our protected landscapes a new purpose. The UK Government must listen to its own experts and the public and make it a responsibility and a duty for these landscapes to be managed in a way that helps us fight the nature and climate crisis. 

We’re calling for a Protected Landscape Amendment so that National Parks and Protected Sites have the power to deliver bold actions that fast-track nature’s recovery, support local communities to manage the land in a more nature-friendly way and deliver solutions to the climate crisis.  

This is our chance to make a difference and make sure nature gets the protection it desperately needs – but we need your help to send political leaders a message they can’t ignore. Add your name to the Nature 2030 open letter today. https://bit.ly/nature_2030