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Penwith Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest; Cornwall’s western-most landscape receives further accolade of SSSI designation

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By Mark Beard - Penwith Moors SSSI designation project manager The designation of a new Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is a reminder that, as a society, we value the special place nature plays in enriching our lives, protecting …

Beavers are now legally protected in England – the licensing regime explained

Beaver wetlands slow, store and filter water helping to reduce downstream flooding, improve water quality, increase biodiversity, and resilience to drought and adaptation to climate change. Photo credit: Giles Wagstaff, Natural England

By Stephanie Bird-Halton - Director of National Delivery Protection of beavers and why it’s important On 1 October 2022 the legislation changed to protect wild-living beavers in England. Beavers are now listed in Schedule 2 of the Conservation of Habitats …

Biodiversity Metric Milestone - Defra consultation on the biodiversity metric

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The Secretary of State has now launched an 8-week consultation on the Biodiversity Metric to be used for the purpose of calculating biodiversity net gain as required under the 2021 Environment Act[1]. The Biodiversity Metric is a key tool that …

Natural England’s response to avian influenza in wild birds – August 2022

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Farne Islands guillemot colony

By Ginny Swaile, Deputy Director Science - Sustainable land and sea use The UK is currently experiencing the largest outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza on record with poultry, captive birds and wild birds all affected. A similar situation is …

Springing into Action with Protected Site Strategies for Nature’s Recovery

The Environment Act 2021 sets out the Government’s aim to put nature on the road to recovery for future generations. It has given us some of the tools needed to deliver for our environment, from cleaning up the country’s air, …

Taking an evidence led approach to delivery of the Government’s tree target

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The UK Government’s ambition to increase tree and woodland cover in England from 14 to 17%, by more than trebling annual planting rates by 2050, represents a major shift in land use policy. As well as enhancing carbon sequestration, new …

Marine net gain – leaving the marine environment in better state.

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Kelp forest and blue mussel bed, Cornwall.

Defra has just opened a 12-week consultation, seeking views on the proposed aims and principles of marine net gain and how to best introduce a net gain approach to infrastructure and development in the marine environment. Natural England welcomes this …

Climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation. New report from the IPCC

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Mike Morecroft Principal Specialist, Climate Change at Natural England. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is the United Nations body responsible for assessing the scientific evidence on climate change.  Every 7-8 years it produces comprehensive ‘Assessment Reports’, which have been …